‘I hope they’re looking my way.’ Dak Prescott says Cowboys can follow him to playoffs.
The Dallas Cowboys have had their locker room speeches.
They have been angry in practice with trash-talking and chippy play.
But none of that matters if the Cowboys (6-6), losers of two straight and six of their last nine, don’t find a way to change how they are playing in games.
So while quarterback Dak Prescott said a few words to the team before the walk-through Monday morning as they continue to prepare for Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Bears, he says it’s put up or shut up time for the Cowboys.
In his mind, talk is cheap and the time for talking is done.
“When it’s times like this, it’s more lead by example,” Prescott said Monday. “Talk is cheap, right? We’ve talked a lot. We’ve talked a bunch and got ourselves right to where we are. In a moment like this I say hell with the talking and I’m going to do more.
“I’m going to work harder and if you’re a young guy looking for somebody to figure it out, how to do it, yeah, look at me and some of these other guys because that’s exactly what we’re doing, putting our head down focusing and doubling down on ourselves.”
Prescott said everyone knows where the Cowboys are and what’s at stake over the last four games of the season.
And while they still control their own destiny, as they lead the Philadelphia Eagles by one game in the NFC East, nothing is guaranteed for a team that continues to struggle.
They have to find a way to play better.
“It obviously hasn’t gone the way we’ve wanted it to, but as I just said, we’re still in a position where things are still in front of us,” Prescott said. “It’s about focusing on now, not looking too far ahead or trying to get there right now, but taking care of this day and doing it the best we can. Being in this position, it’s all about coming to work each and every day, focusing on that day and the task at hand and look up here in a month and be where we want to be.
“I can sit here and say as much as I want to you guys but it’s about going out there executing at practice and doing it on Thursday.”
Prescott said the improvement against the Bears starts with him. He still leads in the NFL in passing yards but he struggled to get the team in the end zone in back-to-back losses to the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills and has more turnovers (3) than touchdowns the past two games as well.
Might Prescott and the Cowboys be getting too greedy trying to make the big play, causing him to hold the ball too long in the pocket rather than taking the check-down?
“I think it’s fair,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “Sometimes you have had some success you want to keep building on that success. It may be boring, blah football play after play, let things build that way. From my side, I can help with that process as well.”
Said Prescott: “No, I’ve got to be better. I hurt the team (regarding the sack and fumble against the Bills) and we’ll move on and be better for it.”
Prescott is not into making fiery speeches to the team as defensive end Michael Bennett did after last Thursday’s loss to the Bills.
“They have their times,” Prescott said. “But if you need to be fired up at 6-6, this isn’t the locker room for you.”
Prescott believes this a time for him to show up and shine on and off the field. He hopes the players are looking to him for guidance and leadership as well as superior play.
“I hope they are,” Prescott said. “I’m not sure if they are, if that’s their mindset or not but I hope they are, just because the way I’m going to go about this. I‘ve faced adversity a lot in my life on and off the field and at this moment I’m just doubling down on myself and my teammates. I’ve got confidence in what I can do and what these guys around me can do and hope they’re looking my way.”
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 5:51 PM.
