Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott addressing the media on Thursday. On a personal note, he’s preparing for a much-anticipated matchup with the Green Bay Packers this Sunday. The Sunday matchup is a big deal, he said it’s not about him playing against linebacker Micah Parsons. Notably, he pointed to the teamwork displayed by the offense in countering the Packers’ daunting pass rush. The Packers have racked up ten sacks during this young season.
Prescott acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly as he will be without two starting offensive linemen: right guard Tyler Booker, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, and center Cooper Beebe, who is recovering from a foot injury. Even with these hurdles, Prescott said he never lost faith that his team would adjust and come through.
“In this league, you’re usually throwing against the pass rush more than you are the coverage,” Prescott said. He noted that it takes not only him but all of his teammates to protect against the pressure they will face. Those will never be the headlines!” he shouted. While he conceded the rarity of the week nine matchup, he stressed the importance of keeping the focus on the team over on the individual matchups.
Green Bay’s defense has been excellent this season and Rashan Gary’s 4.5 sacks lead the league. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur called their pass rush “great,” with an impressive understatement noting how much of a force Parsons is. He revealed that, like him and Parsons, he and Carla have a history. They went at it in practice and went back and forth in a classic, playful trash talk. “I was just letting him know he wasn’t going to down me,” Prescott said, certainly as friendly competition existed between the two players.
While some might view this game as a personal battle between him and Parsons, Prescott firmly stated, “This is Dallas Cowboys vs. the Green Bay Packers, and we’ve got to go get a win.” He described his anticipation for the matchup, pledging that both teams were going to leave their best efforts on the field.
In turn, the Packers have been vulnerable all over the field, giving up 13 pass plays of 25 yards or more over the entire season. In spite of these challenges, Prescott knows about the threat their punishing pass rush proscribed. “You turn on the tape, and that’s what makes this a good defense,” he mentioned, emphasizing how their understanding of defensive schemes enables them to be effective.
As he gets set for Sunday, Prescott is more concerned with the present than the past or any history of bad blood. He reflected on his journey, stating, “Hey, you got to ask Jerry [Jones] or Micah. To me, the closure happened when the trade happened.” Or, in other words, he’s left behind the tired narratives of his rookie year. Now, he’s laser-focused on guiding his squad.
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