FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott said Thursday that his old winning streak against the New York Giants is over and is the last thing on his mind, three days before the Dallas Cowboys open the season at MetLife Stadium.
Kickoff Sunday night is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC. The Giants have a new coaching staff and new personnel on defense, Prescott said.
“That streak’s over with,” Prescott said. “Unfortunately, I started the last time we played them and we didn’t win that game. So according to, right, the [stat keepers] and all that, I’m pretty sure that streak’s over with. So my point of that is I wasn’t even thinking about that. That’s the last thing in my head.”
“Each opportunity to play against an NFL team is a new challenge in itself,” Prescott continued. “Obviously, there’s a new coaching staff over there and new personnel, right, on defense and just different spots. So it’s about us. It’s about our focus. It’s about the team that we’ve built this whole offseason and the work that we’ve put in throughout training camp and this week as well, and excited for that opportunity.”
The End Of Dak Prescott’s 14-Game Streak Against The New York Giants
Prescott started the Jan. 4 finale at MetLife Stadium and played the first half of a 34-17 loss. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 70 yards before Joe Milton III took over in the second half. Both teams were already out of the playoff race.
The loss ended Prescott’s 14-game winning streak as a starter against New York. It was the second-longest streak by a quarterback against one opponent in NFL history. Prescott’s last loss to the Giants before that came as a rookie in 2016.
Prescott said after that game that he was a little selfishly upset about the streak ending. He also said then that it was good it ended so it would not be a conversation this year. Prescott is 14-3 as a starter against the Giants.
Dallas has won 11 of its 12 season openers against New York. The Cowboys beat the Giants 40-37 in overtime at AT&T Stadium in Week 2 last season.
Dak Prescott On John Harbaugh’s New York Giants
New York hired coach John Harbaugh on Jan. 20, after his 18 seasons in Baltimore, where he won Super Bowl XLVII. Dallas’ message this week is to be ready to win in the fourth quarter.
“Tough,” Prescott explained. “He’s obviously coached a lot of winning teams, so to me, you expect a game to go into the fourth quarter, and that’s kind of our message. You can’t win it in those first three, so be ready and do whatever it takes to go get it in the fourth, and anytime you’re playing a good coach like that and his winning history, you’ve got to be ready for it.”
Receiver George Pickens faced Harbaugh’s Ravens twice a year during his three seasons with Pittsburgh. Physicality is what Harbaugh harps on personally, Pickens said.
“Physical,” Pickens said Wednesday. “I feel like John Harbaugh, that’s one of the biggest things he likes to harp on, just him personally. Just be physical, and I feel like when he drives that notion through the guys that he’s got on his team, I feel like they’re going to come out and be a physical group.”
Across the field, Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will run his first game with New York. He said Thursday that Prescott has seen it all.
“First of all, a lot of respect for Dak Prescott,” Wilson said. “He’s a top quarterback in the National Football League. He’s seen it all. He’s very decisive with where he’s going with the ball, he gets the ball out of his hands quick.”
Harbaugh has declined to say who will play for New York on Sunday night. The Giants went 4-13 last season, and Dallas went 7-9-1.
