FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott said Thursday that the Dallas Cowboys have to start fast Sunday against the Washington Commanders in their home opener.
On Sept. 13, the New York Giants scored on their opening drive of a 28-20 win at MetLife Stadium. Dallas went three-and-out on its first possession. Washington also opened 0-1, losing 24-22 at Philadelphia.
Prescott feels great about the game plan for Sunday.
“There’s definitely must-wins in this league,” Prescott said. “I know that, to your point, right, you don’t want to say it. And at the end of the day, like if it didn’t happen, there’s still time. There’s a lot of opportunity.”
“But yeah, just from a team, this team, right, all the changes, all the excitement, yeah, we’ve got to go win,” Prescott continued, “and what a great opportunity to do it at home against a division opponent right there that we know pretty well. Obviously they’ve made a number of changes on their side, but yeah, we’re looking forward. Feel great about our game plan. We’ve got to start fast. Looking back at last week, especially on our offensive side, we start fast, that’s a different game. So it’s about starting fast, being our best version just through the discipline, through the little things, and allowing our playmakers to take over.”
Running back Javonte Williams ran 12 times for 41 yards and a touchdown against New York. The Giants ran for 165 yards.
Prescott said the offensive line is excited for Sunday.
“It’ll be vital to get the running game going,” Prescott explained. “I mean, everything, the running game starts and everything opens up after that. Obviously, you know how much we all and myself love the run action, the play action, and you can’t do that unless you’re getting good runs. And then once you do that, they’ll load up the box and we can let our playmakers attack outside.”
“So it’s got to start there,” Prescott added. “I know the offensive line is excited for it. I know that they’re pissed about their performance last week and not getting it done. And I know they’re going to come out ready to go.”
Dak Prescott Says Starting Fast Includes Special Teams
Starting fast is not only an offensive job for Prescott.
“Starting fast, it’s everybody, right?” Prescott said. “They scored on their opening drive and we didn’t. So I’m not speaking of just the offense when I say that. Special teams has a play and a part in it, too. They can help. They can make a big play. They can change the field position.”
“So it’s just as a team, as a team, we’ve got it as a whole,” Prescott noted. “We’ve got to go in there. We’ve got to start fast. And like I said, it’s about being disciplined, doing the things that we obviously can handle that are 100% in our control and going from there.”
After halftime in New York, Dallas had two possessions and scored on both. The Giants held the ball for long stretches in between.
“Just making adjustments and looking at the tape, or the pictures from the last drive,” Prescott said, “and going and making sure the receivers and everybody knows when you get back and you get another chance, this is what we’re going to do. These adjustments we’re going to make. I’m just trying to root my guys on. I’ve got a lot of faith and I’ve got a lot of optimism in me. So it’s nothing but that when I’m on the sideline and just trusting those guys who get the job done.”
Dak Prescott On AT&T Stadium And The Trip To Rio de Janeiro
Prescott has quieted the home crowd in the red zone before, going in to score.
“I just love playing at AT&T Stadium,” Prescott said. “Always has. It’s just been bright inside, especially when they open up the roof. It’s just got a sense about it that I love. It feels like home.”
“Yeah, scoring, sometimes our big plays, and that energy and that excitement getting down there, rushing to get on the ball,” Prescott continued. “And it’s hard to, hard to put that into words. Just in that simple fact of, hell, we’ve had to go silent sometimes at home. We’ve made a big play and you’ve seen me down in the red zone, trying to get the crowd quiet before we score, going into score. And so the energy, the energy is electric. It’s something that I appreciate. Obviously I’m always trying to help them on third down, help the defense just by getting the crowd going, and it’s a special place to play.”
Dallas faces the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 27 at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the NFL’s first game in the city. Prescott’s answer on what he is doing off the field to prepare for the flight was three words: “Win on Sunday.”
Thursday was a third-down day at practice, and red zone work is next.
“No, it’s pretty easy,” Prescott said. “Third down today, red zone tomorrow, and Washington. It’s hard to actually even think past that. And then, yeah, I’ve got enough, whether it’s even off the field with the family, that, yeah, I’m so, so into the now and maybe even a little bit tomorrow that after that, I truly couldn’t tell you and wouldn’t be the guy that I am and wouldn’t be present enough here if I did put energy on that.”
Kickoff Sunday at AT&T Stadium is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on Fox. The Ravens game in Rio de Janeiro kicks off at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sept. 27.
