FRISCO, Texas — Quarterback Dak Prescott said Thursday that he plays way more instinctively now than earlier in his career, because the situations he has lived through stay in his head and become second nature.
Prescott is in his 11th season with the Dallas Cowboys. He said experience, good and bad, is what lets him make decisions with the whole team in mind.
“Yeah, ten times, yeah, way more, way more instinctive. I mean, you’ve played the game, you’ve got experiences. I mean, you’ve got experiences of being in those situations, and it not going your way or it has gone your way, and knowing, I need to do this or should have done that,” Prescott said. “The things stay in your head, they register, and it’s second nature to do this or to not do that and to put your team in the best situation to win. That’s ultimately my job, so every decision I’m trying to make has the whole team’s responsibility in mind.”
The balance between instinct and what he is coached to do depends on the moment, Prescott said.
“Yeah, time. Depends on the time, I guess, and the win and situationally, and what I’m being, I guess, at that point, coached to do versus the scenario,” Prescott said.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that a word he chose on third-and-goal late in Sunday’s 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens put Prescott in a more conservative mindset before Prescott threw the ball away.
Dak Prescott Says The 24-Hour Rule Held After A 10-Hour Flight
The Cowboys flew 10 hours home from Rio de Janeiro after the loss. Prescott said the long flight did not change how long he let it sit with him.
“No, it was still 24 hours. No, it was within the 24 hours. Ten-hour flight. Yeah, it was a 10-hour flight. I had 14 more hours when we got back to dwell in it if I must,” Prescott said. “But, no, I mean, no. I mean, they all suck. And whether you get over them in 24 hours or not, do you still have memories or flashes that pop up? Hell, yeah. No, probably that happens for life. I mean, I can tell you high school games or college games, good or bad, certain plays, and that doesn’t go away.”
Prescott said he was thankful the loss came in the third game, against a good team, in a game Dallas had a chance to win.
“And so, yeah, it sucks. But at the end, I’m so, so, so thankful it was the third game of the season against a good team. I know we would feel a whole lot worse, even myself, if the score was 50 to 10 or whatever, and it wasn’t even close and didn’t give ourselves a chance,” Prescott continued. “Yeah, it sucks because you dropped the ball. You didn’t do what you need to do, but you can look yourself in the mirror and you can fix that, much rather than us saying, ‘Hell, we need to make five trades with three or two on each side.’”
“No, it’s game three and there’s a lot of season left, and the last thing we’re going to do is let this derail us or allow us to lose confidence in the play-callers and each other,” Prescott added. “And truly, our calling card is our brotherhood. So I’d be damned if we’re going to allow that right now to lose any steam or not to be as valuable as it has been for us.”
Dak Prescott Says Trust Holds When You Debrief
Prescott said he and Schottenheimer debriefed the final drive and that there was no lack of trust between them. Keeping it that way over time comes down to honesty and accountability, he said.
“Yeah, you debrief. You be honest. Hold each other both accountable, and you be accountable to your own doings, and you go forward,” Prescott said.
Through three games, Prescott has completed 73 of 105 passes for 730 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. He has not committed a turnover in the last two games.
Dallas is 1-2 and plays at the Houston Texans on Sunday. Kickoff at Reliant Stadium is set for noon CT on Fox.
