Dak Prescott put his body in danger for the Cowboys offense
FRISCO, Texas – There was a large bandage on his left elbow and several visible marks on each arm.
As he spoke, Dak Prescott clung to the podium, searching for words after the Dallas Cowboys’ 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Prescott was physically and mentally exhausted, as usual after weekly referendums on how he played, what kind of quarterback he was and what kind of quarterback he could become.
“Dak is a damn warrior,” defensive end Micah Parsons said.
“There were a few times I said to myself, ‘That’s Dak, Prescott’s mom.
It’s a dog.
He is a warrior.
I have incredible faith in him.
I thought he had a good match.
I think people should respect him more.
Today he outperformed everyone.
It was the most passing yards he had in a game since his 375-yard outing on Thanksgiving 2021.
He became the first Cowboys quarterback to have 10 passing games of at least 350 yards and three touchdown passes.
It was the eighth time he threw for more than 300 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, but the first time he lost such a game.
In the three games since his – and the Cowboys’ – lowest point of the season, a 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Prescott has completed 75 of 105 passes for 950 yards with eight passing yards.
touchdown and one interception.
He rushed 17 times for 73 yards and a touchdown.
He was also fired 13 times.
“I feel fine, but in the end, I judge myself based on my wins — and like I told you, I’m my own biggest critic,” he said on Sunday .
“I can promise you there are two or three games that I can’t sleep thinking about.
But this is why I will continue to work and we will progress thanks to them.
reached the tower, while running away from two Eagles defenders.
“I’m just mad at myself for not diving or touching the obelisk,” he said.
“I had it.
” Instead of needing a tying field goal, the Cowboys needed a touchdown on their final two drives.
The first down stalled at the Philadelphia 29 when Prescott’s fourth-down pass to receiver Jalen Tolbert was high.
The second kickoff started at the Dallas 14 with 46 seconds left.
In 19 seconds, the Cowboys were at the Philadelphia 6, thanks to a pass interference penalty, tight end Jake Ferguson’s 10-yard catch, another Eagles penalty, a 14-yard catch by receiver CeeDee Lamb and another Philadelphia penalty.
But it won’t come close.
Prescott’s final pass to Lamb went for 23 yards when the Cowboys needed 27 yards to win the game.
However, Prescott’s effort stunned his teammates.
“He’s running, he’s taking big hits.
Obviously you don’t want your quarterback to take hits, but when you see it and feel it and he comes back into the conversation team and he’s right back at it.
“It’s contagious,” Ferguson said.
“It makes you want to do more.
” For the Cowboys to win big, Prescott will need to continue playing as if he has played the past three games.
The biggest change came in his legs, not just his running.
He releases the pressure and finds the receiver of his pass downfield.
In his last three games, Prescott has completed 14 of 17 passes with two touchdown passes from outside the box, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
In his first five games, he finished 9 of 16 without a touchdown other than the bag.
Against the Eagles, he was 4-of-4 for 75 yards and a touchdown against Jalen Tolbert.
“That’s freedom,” Prescott said.
“It reflects on the offense.
It depends on [coach] Mike [McCarthy] understanding my game and we’re really on the same page, to be honest with you.
But the more Prescott moved, the more hits he took.
After dislocating and fracturing his right ankle in 2020, owner and general manager Jerry Jones wanted coaches to know how Prescott uses his legs.
And Prescott was paying attention, too.
Then, to start this season, with McCarthy at the helm for the Cowboys for the first time, Prescott was concerned about playing within the system.
Now that he and McCarthy have more time to focus on their tasks, he has learned to listen to his feet not only when passing the ball but also when he needs to get out of the box.
“The last few weeks, I’ve probably been in a little more pain than I’ve been in, but I’m okay with that,” Prescott said.
The pain after a win is different than the pain after a loss, especially a tough loss like the Eagles.
“For me right now, I want to play this way.
I want to keep playing this way,” Prescott said.
“I know it will hurt.
I know by Tuesday I will be more sore than I have been all year.
But I want to play that way on Sunday, so it’s a process.
Obviously I have a great team with [personal trainer Luke Miller] and the Cowboys.
Trust it.
”
