Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has perfect response to team's most pressing doubt
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a night to remember in Tampa Bay as he picked apart the Buccaneers' secondary and racked up five total touchdowns. Whether it was textbook reads to manipulate opposing defenders or chaotic Mahomes-Esque play-making moments, Prescott could do no wrong in those three and half hours of play on Monday […]
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a night to remember in Tampa Bay as he picked apart the Buccaneers' secondary and racked up five total touchdowns.
Whether it was textbook reads to manipulate opposing defenders or chaotic Mahomes-Esque play-making moments, Prescott could do no wrong in those three and half hours of play on Monday night. This was elite quarterbacking in an NFL playoff game.
In the heat of battle, all that was on his mind was the play at hand. But Dak's source of motivation goes back to last year's playoff loss against the San Francisco 49ers.
And now that such an inspiring performance will be left in the rearview mirror and that the road ahead leads to the Bay Area, that memory matters more than ever.
"For me and this team that’s a scar, that one hurts and it will hurt for the rest of my
career and it will be a (source of) motivation throughout my career just to make sure I’m
preparing the right way," the Cowboys quarterback told reporters postgame. "Leaving no doubt in the preparation."
Prescott, who passed for 305 yards and four touchdowns for a 143.3 passer rating, described the sentiment extends to the entire roster, particularly leaders on both sides of the ball.
"Just being able to get (the 49ers) again, DeMarcus (Lawrence) said it earlier in the week in the leadership meeting that this thing is set up just for us playing teams that have beaten us, teams that we’re familiar with," Dak added.
The good news is the Cowboys team that played on Monday night is a different one than last year's squad. Maybe not so much so talent-wise – the foundations remain quite similar – but mentality-wise. In Tampa Bay, it wasn't an unprepared group of players that took the field.
No, this squad handled business. When the Cowboys don't beat themselves, they look like a collective capable of taking down any team in the NFL. The key now is to keep the same intensity in preparation.
Multiple players and coaches mentioned they had a terrible week of practice before Week 18's trip to Washington. It showed. Conversely, they all cited a great week of prep heading into Tampa Bay.
Now they have a 31-14 win to show for it as well as the franchise's first-ever win against Tom Brady, master of the playoffs.
"So it’s important for us now, as I said, to just capitalize on this preparation," Prescott said, "take it one day at a time, and make sure we’re ready to go just as we were for this one."
Featured image via Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
