Dak Prescott Says Cowboys Face 'Must-Win' Game vs. Falcons Ahead of NFL Week 9
October 31, 2024
Amid a 3-4 start to the season, every game left this year is important for the Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Dak Prescott went as far as to say this week's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons is a must-win if Dallas wants to reach the playoffs.
"Hell to me every game is," Prescott said, per ESPN's Todd Archer. "But obviously 3-4, as I've said, lot of season left, but the first start to be able to say that confidently is getting back even, especially having a couple of home ones after that."
The Cowboys are off to their worst start since 2020 when they finished the year 6-10 and missed the playoffs. Though they played tight games against the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, they also have a pair of blowout losses to the New Orleans Saints (44-19) and the Detroit Lions (47-9).
Dallas' 38-point loss to Detroit was its fifth-largest in franchise history.
One of the Cowboys' biggest areas in need of improvement is their ability to take care of the football. Dallas has the fourth-most turnovers in the NFL with 13, and Prescott accounts for the majority of those.
Prescott, who threw just nine interceptions a season ago, already has eight interceptions and is on track for a career-worst year in interceptions. The Cowboys' leader owned up to his mistakes and said he needs to improve in that area, but also said he won't let the interceptions rattle him.
"I've got to be better. Simple as that," he said, per the Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins. "Take it for how it is, look at those plays independently, look at the other ones that probably could have been or could've turned out a different way than they did. But you're never going to knock my confidence."
But offensive mistakes aren't the sole reason for Dallas' struggles. The Cowboys have been one of the worst teams in the league defensively, giving up 28.3 points per game, the second-worst mark only behind the Carolina Panthers.
The defense will likely see at least some improvement when star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who has missed the last three games with a high left ankle sprain, returns to the field. Parsons did not practice on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
As they await the return of Parsons, the Cowboys will look to eliminate mistakes in hopes of snapping a two-game losing skid.
