Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (Post-Game Transcript)
On the importance of a division win after a losing streak:
“You said the only thing that matters is getting a win. Huge to do that, obviously in what we’ve done the last couple of weeks to put that behind us and come out and get a division win on the road in a hostile environment right before we get to go home for a couple of weeks. I think it was massive and just a great complimentary win, right back and forth in the first half. Defense settles in in the second half, one touchdown. We were able to pretty much score on most of the drives I think except right there, two to three in the fourth quarter. Very balanced attack. We have to stick to it.”
On the team’s running game:
“Lineman led the way. [Cowboys DT Quinton] “Q” [Williams] had a great message for the team before the game, just talking about the O-line and the D-line, going to control in the game and on offense that’s exactly what it was. We knew we had to create some balance. We had to stick to the run, even if some are negative or not as efficient as we want and we’re able to do that and you saw they got better as the game went on. Those two-yard runs turned to six-yard runs from six to 12 and from there we’re able to stay balanced and then pass off of that and so that’s kind of the attack we have to continue.”
On if this was the team’s most complete offensive performance of the season:
“I mean the numbers would say so. You go 200 and 200. Obviously that shows balance, [Cowboys WR] George [Pickens] scores a touchdown. [Cowboys WR] CeeDee [Lamb] scores a couple. [Cowboys RB] Javonte [Williams] was dominant. [Cowboys RB Tyler] Goodson came in and had a great day with his reps with Javonte. I would say the numbers would say so, but this is one game. We’ve got to build on this. We’ve got to show that we can continue to do this. So, we’re not going to be placing and say this is it. We’ve got to go get better this week and do it again next week.”
On if this was a must-win game:
Absolutely. I don’t know if it’s much more than we’ve lost two games. We say the division’s right in front of us. It is as long as we win. If you lose another game, then you’re probably checking to see what New York’s doing. You’re probably watching the other teams more than we should. You’ve got to win the games, you’ve got to win division games. Like I said, how big of a game this was, understanding how much they’re hurt on their offensive side and yeah, huge road win for us. As I said, create momentum for us to go back home for the next couple of weeks.
On if the team did anything different this week in practice:
No, not at all. I mean, I alluded to that after last game [and] throughout the week. It’s not about our process through the week. We do things right. We prepare the right way. We’ve got great attitudes, our great brotherhood shows. We’ve just got to come out and earn it and win it on Sunday. Nobody’s going to give it to us. Nobody’s going to say, ‘Yeah, you’re the better team. You’ve got it.’ That’s what’s so great about the NFL. We’ve got to come out and earn it each and every week and there’s going to be no difference coming next Sunday.
On what it’s like in the locker room after a win like tonight::
“I mean it’s great. That’s the time to celebrate. All the work that you’ve put in, a hard week of preparation, you take them one by one. You understand that you haven’t won in a couple of weeks and we had some let down games. It’s just exciting. It’s the culmination of all your hard work and you winning that game and coming together, that’s the brotherhood showing and that’s what makes it special. It’s just that group in there. It’s just a group that sweats together, sacrifices together and they get to celebrate together. That’s what makes it fun. But that time doesn’t last. It’s a short week [since] this is a Monday. We have to take care of our bodies, and we’ve got to be just as hungry as we were in approaching this last week as we need to be this week.”
On his mindset walking into the locker room after the game and whether he was still in a business-like approach while his teammates were celebrating:
“The game was over with. I just expect that. Obviously I’ve been in the league 11 years now and understanding where this team is, what we need to do, the importance and when you expect to do something, yeah you should celebrate it. Don’t get me wrong. The work that we put in. It’s not like I didn’t celebrate with my guys in the locker room. I’m not happy about it. I don’t know if you wanted me to be happy. I don’t really know what you want from us.”
On whether the offensive game plan involved more tempo:
“Yeah, to an extent. Just the tempo, like you said, in and out of the huddle, quick play calls, sticking to the run that allowed the action, the play action to come alive. We didn’t necessarily hit the big ones like we wanted to. They did a good job of still trying to play over the top and taking that away. [The Eagles were playing [cloud] coverage with [WR] George [Pickens] and they were rerouting [WR] CeeDee [Lamb] here and there when they could. And so yeah, they blitzed us early. We had the answers for it and that allowed us to stay balanced all throughout the game”
On wearing a ‘Lineman Lead the Way’ shirt and his appreciation for his linemen:
“Those guys are working. Those guys, they sacrifice. They do a hell of a job week in and week out. This is a tough football game. It takes all 11 on each play. I say that to say we just have to stick to the run. You have to call it and keep calling and [Head Coach Brian Shottenheimer] Shotti knows that and he’s going to continue to do that. I think when we do, you get games like this. I mean, I wish I would have even been cleaner more in the past game. But from there, what happens when you stick to the run, you make them respect the run, you get the boxes you want and that allows us to tackle the playmate.”
On Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer’s conference lasting four minutes, and if there was a change during the game:
“Definitely hungry, pissed off version of Shotti. It’s not like he’s naive. It’s not like he hadn’t heard some noise about him and whether it’s the call in the games or whatever doubt that’s been out there, but we’ve got his back. He knows that. He’s a guy that takes a lot of pride in his job, a lot of pride in his team. Everybody handles everything different, so I don’t blame him to an extent. We’ve got his back. More importantly, it’s just about us going out there and executing on Sundays.”
On the atmosphere in Philadelphia and how it compares to other places:
“Yeah, it was similar. I heard a lot of trash talk. I heard a lot of comments, some funny, some were up to par with probably a lot [of] what everybody else says. It’s just a great environment. I joked or was mentioning to the quarterbacks, just being from the SEC, this feels like that environment. These people love football. They’re going to let you know how they feel. They love their team and they hate anybody that’s playing them, particularly us and any rivals. I just think that makes it fun. Played here year after year, so it’s a lot of familiarity with it and it’s just a great environment. Love being here.
On what he saw from Cowboys WR George Pickens:
“I mean, once again, these guys are no different than a lot of these other teams. They’re going to put two guys on cloud at his side, and they understand and respect his big play ability and the way that he ignites our offense. So, credit to them. I mean, I’m sure he wants more out there, but made a great touchdown play. The guy did a good job trying to reroute him, but I saw [Cowboys WR] George [Pickens] is still headed to the back of the end zone, being physical on his route. And I just tried to give him a chance, and he went and made one of the best catches and toe-taps I’ve seen in a long time.”
On how Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer’s energy affected him and the team:
“Yeah. I mean, I’m as motivated and as locked in as anybody and don’t need much, but I’m sure the team, I know the team feels it. I’m sure there’s players that need that to fire themselves up to an extent. It’s contagious. And at the end of day, he’s our head coach. We’re going to follow him. As I said, we’ve got his back and we appreciate that.”
On if he had any conversations with Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer about being angry from the Cowboys’ loss last week:
“Yeah, it was just evident. There’s actually no conversations about it. I’m not one to talk about that for the most part. The only thing we can do is go control what’s in front of us. I think he’s very much the same way and I think that’s why the hunger was set in. We had a full week of not being able to go back out there and get the win or get the taste out of our mouth from the last couple of weeks, you can say. I was just anxious to get to it, and you can tell we had a great week of preparation, nothing different than we’ve been doing, but great communication throughout the week and it continued all day today.”
On how Cowboys RB Javonte Williams played after facing a frustrating past few weeks:
“He’s a true pro, one of the best teammates, a guy that does everything right. Smart football player, physical football player. He’s a guy you got to get in a groove. And I think that’s probably one of the frustrating things for him the last couple of weeks. He’s not getting that chance again and again to get in that groove or to turn some of those two-yard runs into six-yard runs and so on. And tonight he had that chance and when you follow that offensive line, trust them, trust those blocks, that’s the product you’re going to get.”
On taking a shot before a third and long and being out of breath:
“I almost scrambled when I got out of the pocket, but I saw CeeDee open and saw the pull, but different than last week, last week I got my ribs hit. This week it was just like an elbow right to the middle of the gut. I just couldn’t breathe there for a second or so. By the time I got back to the huddle, I realized there was no injury, there was no pain. I just need to catch my breath. Kind of made sure I did that, slow down. Yeah. Great play call. We were able to execute it. Fortunately, we got the penalty, probably if we don’t, then CeeDee catches and we move on.”
On how to take this momentum into the next few games:
“Yeah, momentum’s real, especially in this league. Especially in what we do and just understanding the parity and how tough this league is. When you get a win, the confidence it gives your group, the confidence it gives this team and just being able to build off of that and the benefit of also going home, having a couple of home games in a row, but only this week matters. It’s Arizona, right? We’ve just got to make sure we have a great week of preparations to make sure that translates into a big win. From there you get two in a row, you start stacking.”