Why QB Dak Prescott says confident and rested Cowboys plan to keep same urgent mindset
The streaking Dallas Cowboys are rested up and confident heading into the final four games of the season, starting Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
But they are far from satisfied and plan to maintain the same urgent mindset that sparked them to a four-game winning streak and first place in the NFC East with a 7-5 record after seemingly being left for dead a month ago at 3-5.
”Our backs are still against the wall,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “Nothing has changed. Obviously, we’re winning, we’re stringing some good days and some good games upon each other, but that’s what it’s about. That’s what we’ve preached on, is stacking good days and good wins on top of each other. Nothing changes just because we’ve won a few. We’ve got to keep doing that and we’ve got a good stretch we finish off on.”
Prescott said the Cowboys are ready for finish strong because of the long weekend following last Thursday’s 13-10 victory against the New Orleans Saints.
They are rested and also excited about being able to improve over the final month because of the possible return of some injured players, like tackle Tyron Smith, linebacker Sean Lee, defensive end David Irving and receiver Tavon Austin.
“I’ve been on a lot of good teams, and they all gel at different times,” Prescott said. “So if you’re gelling at the right time as you’re moving forward and the season is coming to an end, as you just said, we’re getting some players back, we’re getting some people we can benefit from and help us, and we’re doing it at a time that we’re playing good. So it’s just important for us to continue this momentum and carry it forward in this last stretch.”
Jerry Jones used the shocking win against the Saints as an example of the Cowboys being able to beat anyone, thus casting them as possible contenders for the Super Bowl. “Why not us,” Jones said recently on his radio show.
Prescott said the players are simply focusing on themselves and getting better as they have done the past four games. If they continue to do that, then anything is possible.
“I don’t know if this team is necessarily the ‘Why not us,’” Prescott said. “But we know what we’re capable of. We’re not worried about what other teams are doing or what’s different about our team than other teams. We’re simply worried about how we get better, how we get better in each and every aspect of this game within each and every unit. We’ve just got the right guys to do that, and if we continue to have that mindset and mentality, we give ourselves a really good chance.”
Linebacker Jaylon Smith agreed. He said the Cowboys are feeling good and playing well as a team.
“The sky is the limit,” he said.
But Smith said there is no room for complacency and there will be no letting up.
“Just resiliency. We connected as one. We pick each other up. That is the beauty about this team that we have,” Smith said about the Cowboys confidence heading into the final four games. “We are playing elite. But you are only as good as your last game or your next game. We have to be consistent. That is the mark of greatness. We are looking forward to this opportunity this weekend.”
This story was originally published December 4, 2018 at 1:26 PM.