ARLINGTON, Texas: Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys wanted the four-game profitable streak they’re on to have hope of catching the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles of their rematch.
The first three victories had been comparatively straightforward, the final required a fourth-quarter rally in a 41-35 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Now the Cowboys (9-3) get a mini-break earlier than going through the defending NFC and division champion Eagles on Dec. 10, and a part of their time shall be spent watching an NFC championship recreation rematch between Philadelphia and San Francisco on Sunday.
The Eagles (10-1) have already managed shut victories over two of the AFC’s finest in Kansas City and Buffalo to maintain what quantities to a two-game lead over Dallas, which they’ve had since handing the Cowboys their most up-to-date loss, 28-23 in Philadelphia.
The Cowboys stored tempo as a result of they didn’t fear about it, Prescott figures.
“The focus of running our own race is why we didn’t drop a game,” Prescott mentioned. “We didn’t try to put our emotions in hoping that they won or lost. They pulled off some close ones, but that’s not for us to focus on or get overwhelmed about.”
The focus for the remainder of this week shall be relaxation with the Cowboys ending the three-games-in-12-days stint they often have round Thanksgiving, the vacation recreation they’ve hosted virtually yearly since 1966.
“Yeah, they’re tired,” coach Mike McCarthy mentioned. “You could see it during the week. I mean, it took them a while to get back.”
Dallas is assured a 3rd consecutive profitable season in McCarthy’s fourth yr, and first because the play-caller. It additionally appears just like the membership will make the playoffs a 3rd straight yr for the primary time for the reason that Nineties groups that gained three Super Bowls in 4 seasons.
The victory over the Seahawks, keyed by Prescott’s third landing cross for the lead with 4 1/2 minutes remaining, was gratifying in numerous methods for the Cowboys.
Even although Seattle dropped to .500, it counted as Dallas’ first victory over a staff with a profitable document this season.
And it can give the Cowboys a significantly better feeling after they see Philadelphia once more with their 14-game dwelling profitable streak, the membership’s longest in additional than 40 years, intact.
“We know that getting this win next week and continuing this home winning streak is more important than anything,” Prescott mentioned. “But it doesn’t mean that we won’t see them again. Whether it’s here or there, it really doesn’t matter. It’s two great teams, division rivals, and to get to where we both want to go, we are probably going to have to see one another again.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Prescott matched his profession finest with a sixth consecutive recreation with no less than two landing passes. He has 21 TDs with simply two interceptions since one of many worst video games in his profession in a 42-10 loss to the Niners, who’ve knocked Dallas out of the playoffs the previous two seasons.
The 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has risen to second within the odds for NFL MVP behind Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, in keeping with FanDuel SportsBook.
“My expectations, honestly,” Prescott mentioned. “I put a lot into this game. I really think that that’s the expectations that I have for myself, the standard that we’ve created as an offense and how we’re comfortable playing this game.”
WHAT NEEDS HELP
While the protection got here up with three fourth-down stops within the fourth quarter to spark the rally from eight factors down and protect the lead, the NFL’s third-ranked unit gave up no less than 400 yards for the third time (406). Dallas allowed 9 of the primary 11 third downs to get transformed and matched a season excessive from the blowout loss to San Francisco by giving up 25 first downs.
STOCK UP
Lost among the many many vital performs within the fourth quarter had been two third-down cross breakups by Jourdan Lewis, each of them establishing fourth-down stops. The first fourth-down cease got here when defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence obtained to Zach Charbonnet within the backfield with Dallas trailing 35-30.
STOCK DOWN
The protection additionally had an issue with penalties, committing six of the 9 that had been enforced, together with cross interference fouls masking 40 yards (Rashaan Evans) and 29 yards (DaRon Bland, who recorded his NFL-leading eighth interception but in addition was burned a number of instances). The protection had three of the 4 Dallas penalties that had been declined.
INJURIES
TE Peyton Hendershot (ankle) has been a full participant in follow however nonetheless hasn’t been activated off injured reserve. That might are available time for the Philadelphia recreation.
KEY NUMBER
40 — The Cowboys are the fifth staff in NFL historical past to attain no less than 40 factors in 4 consecutive dwelling video games. The most up-to-date was Cincinnati in 2014.
NEXT STEPS
Another loss to the Eagles will all however wrap up the division title for Philadelphia, which might make the Eagles the primary back-to-backs winners within the NFC East since they gained 4 straight from 2001-04. The tiebreakers favor Philadelphia in the intervening time.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
