LANDOVER, Md. — The Dallas Cowboys will miss the playoffs, however after Thursday’s 30-23 win towards the Washington Commanders, quarterback Dak Prescott reiterated he desires to play in subsequent week’s season finale on the New York Giants.
“I will have some struggle again,” Prescott mentioned. “It relies on the way it comes, what is the function, what is the cause. Clearly, I perceive being approached about it, however the conversations we have already had about it are for me to play.”
Prescott was sacked six instances, a season excessive, and hurried 11 instances by the Commanders. For the primary time this season, he failed to finish 60% of his passes, hitting 19 of 37 makes an attempt for 307 yards and two touchdowns. He additionally ran 4 instances for twenty-four yards.
Requested if Prescott would play towards the Giants, Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer hedged barely.
“It is Christmas,” Schottenheimer mentioned. “I’ll take pleasure in Christmas, man. I’ll have some eggnog. I will cope with that after I get trying again to the movie, however positively some eggnog. And we’re enjoying to win.”
With a victory towards New York, the Cowboys would keep away from posting a shedding file in back-to-back campaigns for the primary time since they suffered three straight 5-11 seasons from 2000 to 2002.
Prescott mentioned there’s a “huge distinction” between ending 8-8-1 or 7-9-1.
“Lot of satisfaction, and I feel that is another excuse I wish to play,” he mentioned. “In a season [of] me being wholesome, I’ve by no means had, in all of my life, profession, a season below .500. So, that tie goes to return into play very well. So, it is an enormous distinction. It is a type of issues that, I imply, yeah, it is simply satisfaction. It is satisfaction, actually.”
Prescott went 8-8 because the starter in 2019. The 2 instances he has performed fewer than 9 video games, the Cowboys have gone 6-10 (2020) and 7-10 (2024). This would be the third season during which Prescott has began the vast majority of video games and the Cowboys haven’t made the playoffs (2017, 2019).
Prescott mentioned any conversations he has had with Schottenheimer because the Cowboys have been eradicated from the postseason have been with the concept he would begin.
“I really like this sport,” Prescott mentioned. “I really like any alternative that I get to play it. So, with that being mentioned, yeah, if I get to go on the market, I’ll give my greatest. I’ll put together the identical manner. I’ll be the identical participant.
“I perceive the the explanation why possibly not [to play], and if I am approached with that, I will deal with it then.”
The draw back is substantial if Prescott have been to undergo an harm. He’s set to depend greater than $74 million towards the cap, though the Cowboys will restructure his deal to achieve some cap house, with a $40 million base wage. Schottenheimer mentioned he didn’t like that Prescott was hit as a lot as he was by Washington.
“Once more, we wish to win,” Schottenheimer mentioned. “We play to win. Eight-eight-and-one. Do the maths; sounds manner higher than the choice. However once more, the opposite factor is, proper now we’re 4-1 within the division [NFC East]. This can be a fairly good division. Traditionally, it has been among the finest in soccer, and you’ll see how bodily the video games are simply by watching right this moment’s sport.”
Prescott has received 14 straight video games towards the Giants, though the Cowboys wanted a 64-yard subject aim to power extra time in a Week 2 triumph. He has not misplaced to New York since 2016, his rookie season. He believes momentum can carry over to 2026 with victories.
“Profitable helps every part,” Prescott mentioned. “Simply ending off with a win, two of them, can be nice for us.”
After Thursday’s contest, Prescott wore a sweatshirt that learn “Get up joyful” on the entrance.
“I will get up joyful, for certain,” he mentioned, “however I will most likely get up somewhat sore too.”
