Spicy Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott enjoys poking the bear. ‘Pour honey on me’
After the Dallas Cowboys’ 43-20 victory of the Los Angeles Rams, in what was the team’s most complete performance of the season, it was natural to look ahead to next Sunday’s showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles for first place in the NFC East.
The Eagles are reigning division and conference champions and have league’s best record at 7-1.
They are a team the Cowboys (5-2) must overcome if they hope achieve any of their goals in 2023, starting with the NFC East title and ending with a possible journey to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995, ending a 28-year drought.
Owner owner Jerry Jones knows as much. As giddy as he was following the blowout victory against the Rams, Jones refused to talk up next week’s battle against the Eagles.
Jones said he had learned his lesson from hyping up an earlier matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Cowboys 42-10. He didn’t want to poke the bear.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was asked a similar question.
When he heard Jones’ comment, he couldn’t believe it.
Prescott had a different answer.
“If you see me and a bear fight, pour honey on me,” Prescott said. “We can poke it, it’s part of it. It’s part of National Football League whether we talk or not, we know what’s ahead of us. Great opponent, we’re excited for it. Yeah, I’m excited for it. It’s a big game. Big, big, big rival. Division game. So trust me, the guys in the locker room, myself, we know what this game means.
“We’re not going to compare this to the (49ers game). Obviously, we learned a lot about that. And I know the men that we have. I know how we’re going to prepare. And yeah, it’s a matchup we’re looking forward to so I can promise you that in Philly.”
And I would warn you not to take Jones’ superstitious reluctance to talk about the Eagles on a lack of confidence in his team, especially with the way Prescott is playing.
The Cowboys have won two straight games since the loss to the 49ers when Prescott tossed three interceptions.
Prescott has had his two best games of the season in the victory against the Los Angeles Chargers two weeks ago and continuing against the Rams on Sunday as he become a difference maker with his arm and feet.
He completed 21-of-30 passes for 272 yards with a touchdown passing and a touchdown running against the Chargers.
Prescott was even better against the Rams.
He passed for 304 passing yards with four touchdowns and a season-high passer rating of 133.7 against a Rams defense that had given up just four touchdown passes in the previous seven games combined.
“Let’s make it three (best games of the season) next week,” said Prescott. “I’m in rhythm. It feels good. Talked about the system since going back to the spring and things just really coming into play.A lot goes into it, and a lot of it’s the other guys. It’s not just me.
“Part of playing this position is when other guys are playing their best, it makes you look good, and then you’re being told you’re playing your best. We’ll take it, but it’s early in the year and we’ve gotta keep rolling. As I said, we’ve gotta keep taking this momentum and get better, and make sure we’re putting the best version of ourselves out there every week.
“We’re 5-2 and looking forward to taking the next step next week on the road.”
Jones said Sunday’s performance was important for Prescott and coach Mike McCarthy as it was certain evidence that the new offense is finally taking a step forward and getting in sync after a slow start to the season.
“That was a great Dak game right there,” Jones said. “For him, for he team for us and and Mike. That really gave us some confidence and some resolve. He made two or three throws that we were best I’ve ever seen him make.”
There’s no question that some of those throws he made were just so so accurate and so timely. To me, this is maybe one of Dak’s best games. I just want y’all to keep making him mad. No, seriously, it motivates him to be challenged.”
To Jones’ point, Prescott has shon some spice in his press conferences with the media this season when questioned about his and the Cowboys play.
This time, it’s Jones who may be the one firing Prescott up for the Eagles game.
He’s not not afraid of poking the bear.
Just pour honey him.
This story was originally published October 30, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
