‘A Must Win’: Dak Prescott Says Dallas Cowboys Put Themselves In A Hole As New York Giants Keep NFC East Lead Before San Francisco 49ers Visit
INDIANAPOLIS — The Dallas Cowboys improved to 4-5 with a 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the same day the New York Giants beat the Philadelphia Eagles 19-11 to move to 5-2-1. The Giants are the only NFC East team with a winning record, and Philadelphia fell to 2-7 with its seventh straight loss.
Dak Prescott said the Cowboys get in their own way and make games closer than they have to be. Dallas let fourth-quarter leads slip in losses to the Baltimore Ravens and the Arizona Cardinals, and it gave up a 20-10 lead Sunday before Javonte Williams won it on a 1-yard run with 1:08 left.
“I mean, our record. We’ve done it to ourselves. We put ourselves in this position. It is what it is. I mean, at this point, just thank God for the opportunity that we have to fight out of this hole that we’ve put ourselves in,” Prescott said. “Understanding the Giants did win today, so it’s not like they’re making it easier for us. So at this point, simple as that. It’s a must win.”
“Every game’s a must win, and I hope every, as I said, man, woman in that building, support staff, coaches, everybody have this mindset,” Prescott continued. “And just how can they better the team?”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said he loves the roster and the way the team worked and performed Sunday. Dallas will enjoy the win before turning to San Francisco on Monday, he said.
“All teams in this league are good. [The] 49ers are a good football team. So every team in this league is good. That’s why there’s so much parity, and that’s why it’s such a popular sport,” Schottenheimer said. “But we’re gonna enjoy this game, see what we can figure out to clean up. I thought the defense did a good job with the takeaways. We had the two turnovers there. We got to win the turnover battle.”
Dak Prescott Credits Jerry Jones, Front Office Before Trade Deadline
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT. Before kickoff, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that he does not see a trade coming, with receiver George Pickens inactive because of a hamstring injury.
Prescott thanked God for the opportunity to fight out of the hole Dallas dug. When it comes to roster help, he said he would always encourage the front office to add.
“I do. Obviously, credit Jerry, credit the front office and those guys. If you can always add, go do it. Even if you think you have enough, if you can make sure you have enough and get better, go do it. I encourage that,” Prescott explained. “But they’ve done a hell of a job with the team they’ve put together. It’s on us now. Period.”
Dallas played Sunday without Pickens, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. Schottenheimer said the Cowboys will enjoy this one before getting ready for San Francisco starting Monday.
“We just came off a big win with missing some key guys, and we ended up playing really well,” Schottenheimer explained. “So I love our team. I love our roster. I love the way they worked and performed tonight, and I’m really proud of them.”
Dallas Cowboys Turn To San Francisco 49ers At AT&T Stadium
CeeDee Lamb pointed to the history between the franchises and the players San Francisco has on defense. Lamb caught 10 passes for 195 yards and 1 touchdown against the Colts.
“We needed a dub going into it. We all know that, and then we know what we got going on,” Lamb said. “Just the history of the game, the guys that they have over there on defense, and the prep. I mean, it’s gonna take a lot of preparation, a lot of execution. We can’t have as many flags because [they] have a really good offense too.”
When Dallas has a chance to put a team away, Prescott said, it cannot let anyone off the hook. San Francisco is an NFC opponent, and the Cowboys get it at home.
“We’ll see. We’ve got to be ready. We’ve had these games up and down, and we understand that it’s a good opponent coming in, an NFC opponent, and we’ll get them at home,” Prescott said. “So we’ve got to make sure we have a great week of preparation to put ourselves in the best position to go out there and get a win.”
“And at the end of the day, whatever it takes, if it comes down to the end like this one, whatever it takes, regardless, everybody, every man in that locker room, coaching staff, support staff, needs to have on their mind that we’ve got to get a win,” Prescott added.
Tyler Goodson said Dallas has been trying to figure out a way to play a full game. After San Francisco, Dallas has seven regular-season games left.
“You got to finish games and win. You gotta finish games to get in the playoffs, and that’s the only way that we’re getting [in] the playoffs, if you finish games, so we just been trying to figure out a way,” Goodson said. “So as a team, we’re just still trying to find our way. It’s a long season. We got a couple more games left. And once we find that way, just being consistent, disciplined, and try to limit these penalties, we’re gonna be good.”
Dallas hosts San Francisco on Sunday, Nov. 15, with kickoff at 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX. The Tennessee Titans come to AT&T Stadium on Nov. 22, and the Eagles visit on Thanksgiving.
