The Dallas Cowboys' loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday of Week 15 felt a little bit too familiar for fans and media who follow the team closely. 

In many ways, you can relate it to that Week 3 loss in Arizona just by looking at how the run defense was gashed from start to finish. You could also compare it to Week 9's loss in Philadelphia, when the Cowboys failed to remain disciplined in key situations and the pass protection struggled significantly.

But most importantly, it was a reminder of Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers, the former rival-turned-boogeyman of today's Cowboys. On the road against a playoff opponent, Dallas came up short in every phase of the game. 

Postgame, quarterback Dak Prescott was asked about the team's response to adversity on Sunday, compared specifically to the loss to the Niners from back in October.

"No, I thought it was much different in this game from early," Prescott told reporters. "I mean, obviously, you can say that the penalty hurt us (after) the late hit on me, the penalty of those guys backing me up. But that's kind of the difference in those two games alone. We weren't doing that in San Fran. We didn't do that. We didn't have that response in San Fran."

Prescott was talking about Zack Martin going after Bills safety Taylor Rapp, who aimed for Prescott's head on a scramble, drawing a 15-yard penalty that was offset due to Martin's response. While it was a costly penalty, it was one of those moments where you totally understand why it mattered that Martin responded that way. 

According to the Cowboys quarterback, the team didn't have that edge against the 49ers. Thinking back to that game, it's probably true. The team got steamrolled on both occasions, but they at least seemed to remain aggressive throughout the game on Sunday.

"Proud of that for one," Prescott added. "Proud of the fight, the aggressiveness, staying that way."

While the Cowboys quarterback is right about that area, it means little in a game where you lost by 21 points while not putting up much of a fight on the scoreboard. Prescott is very aware of that.

"But we just didn't execute," the Cowboys quarterback admitted. "And as I said, they beat us in the formula. I mean, they got up on us and continued to control the ball, control the possession, kill the clock, and we didn't convert on our third downs, which was something we've been great at all year. And then you look up, and I don't even know how many plays we had, but it doesn't feel like a lot. That's been our way of winning the game. So, they just beat us in the formula. They did a hell of a job of it all three phases. We didn't help ourselves in the first half with some penalties. I missed the throw, right? That's four plays right there."

The Cowboys also missed an opportunity to capitalize on a potentially humongous 14-point swing when Mike McCarthy failed to throw the challenge flag in time. You watch the replay with a cool head and it's not rocket science why the Cowboys lost. Every big swing the game could've taken just didn't go Dallas' way. 

"Those (plays) go the other way and who knows what we're talking about right now?" Prescott offered. But that's the National Football League, especially when you're playing a team like this that's competitive, that's fighting for a playoff spot right now, fighting for their season. It's tough. And as good as a team we are, it's tough to overcome circumstances like that."

The Cowboys get a chance to shake it off and do it all over again next week when they visit the Miami Dolphins. Another big time opponent. Another road trip. Another big-time rushing offense. 

Cowboys provide update on Zack Martin’s injury

Directly from coach Mike McCarthy.