Dak Prescott vows to bring Cowboys back to playoffs after shouldering blame for loss

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott understands how close his team was to finally reaching the NFC title game on Sunday for the first time since 1995. That’s why, after the game, he vowed to bring them back as soon as possible. Prescott shouldered the blame for the 19-12 loss to the 49ers and, though many factors contributed to the outcome, his two interceptions did not help.

“If I had the answers, then we would’ve won tonight. Too early. Too soon,” Prescott said on Sunday night. “And I promise you we will, though. In my time playing on this team, for this organization, we will. Yeah, it sucks that it’s 365 days away to get back to this position, but we’ve got to take it day by day, step by step, and that’s what I’ll do. I know that’s who I am. I’ll respond the right way. As I said, when we get this team aligned, the guys that we get back, coaches, we’ll do what’s necessary to be right back here and win the next time.”

The Cowboys could lose a chunk of starters from this year’s squad to free agency before next season but thanks to his massive contract, Prescott will still be around, for better or worse.

Last Monday versus Tampa Bay, the Cowboys QB had one of his best performances of the season. He followed it up by going 23-for-37 for 206 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. He’s shown flashes of greatness but it hasn’t shown through in the biggest moments.

“I’m disappointed in the way that I’ve played,” Prescott said. “Those guys in that locker room gave it all. Both sides of the ball. And put me in a position to go win the game. And I wasn’t able to do that. And, yeah, I mean, I put it on my shoulders. When you play this position, when you play for this organization, you’ve got to accept that. That’s the reality of it. And as I said, it will make me better.”

Prescott: ‘It’s about finding a way to get better’

The former Mississippi State quarterback has now played in three divisional-round games in his career and lost each one.

“It sucks, as I said, that I don’t get another shot at it for a long time, but I know that when I wake up tomorrow, it will be the first thing on my mind, and it will as I carry it through in my training throughout this offseason, as we get to the start of next season,” Prescott added. “It’s about finding a way to get better, mastering everything that we can to make sure that we get over this hump, whatever it is, and give ourselves a chance of winning it all.”

The Cowboys have the opportunity to bring in more weapons for their signal-caller soon via the draft and through acquisitions.