Dak on message to Cowboys after blowout loss, going into bye week: ‘Look in the mirror’
There’s not much to salvage from what the Dallas Cowboys endured in Week 6, where the Detroit Lions dominated them with a 47-9 blowout at AT&T Stadium. This marked the Cowboys’ third consecutive home loss of the 2024 season, leaving Dak Prescott and his team searching for answers.
A number of issues plagued the Cowboys, and Prescott took responsibility for his share of the struggles.
When asked if he could improve his play moving forward—after completing only 17 of 33 passes for 178 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions against Detroit’s defense—the All-Pro quarterback embraced the need for better performance.
“Absolutely,” said Prescott. “It’s that simple. I’m not saying I need to play perfectly, but I do need to play better, much better than I did. Especially when facing a team like that.
“As talented as they are, they’re on fire right now — strong on defense, great on offense. Definitely, I need to step up.”
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they can’t say the same about their own play on either side of the ball. The offense struggled to find the end zone, while the defense has allowed 167 points in their last four home games, the third-highest total in NFL history over that stretch.
With a 3-3 record heading into the bye week, and their nemesis, the San Francisco 49ers, waiting on the other side, Prescott’s message to his teammates—and himself—is clear. It’s a message echoed by head coach Mike McCarthy during an emotionally charged post-game talk: it’s time for self-reflection.
“We have to improve—plain and simple,” Prescott emphasized. “Heading into the bye week, we’re 3-3 with a long season ahead. I’ve been in worse situations, like in 2018, and we got on a run. It’s about sticking together.
“After a loss like this, there’s no better test for our character.”
For Dallas, this bye week is about self-examination.
“Look in the mirror. Look in the mirror,” said Prescott. “Watch these six games during the bye week. Take a few days to rest and reset, and when we return, be ready to refocus and do whatever it takes to help this team. Everyone has a role, and they need to understand it. Whether it’s bigger or smaller than it was before, just find a way to be the best in that role.
“As I said, there are 11 games left. We’ll take them one at a time, starting with San Francisco. So review these six games, and get a head start on preparing for what’s next.”
The road ahead won’t get easier, with the 49ers, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, and Commanders all eager to face the Cowboys after what they saw on Oct. 13. Dallas will face each of these teams between now and Thanksgiving.
How they emerge from the bye week will determine whether they can go on the run Prescott described, or whether they’ll spiral further.
But first, they need to ensure the mirror shows a clear, undistorted reflection.
