Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's first-ever playoff game now a topic of discussion again
If Dak Prescott wanted to do so, the Cowboys quarterback could use Sunday’s playoff game against the Packers as a barometer for his career.
After all, back in January, 2017, Prescott started his first-ever playoff game. The 13-win Cowboys were the top seed in the NFC bracket. playing host to Green Bay. The Packers were then led by Mike McCarthy. Prescott’s current boss. Aaron Rodgers still was there, too, although he’d yet to be known for a bad Achilles, conspiracy theores or a fight with a late-night host.
The Packers were so good that day that they built a 21-3 lead at AT&T Stadium. Prescott worked frantically to get the Cowboys back into the game. And, finally, Dallas tied it at 31-31 with 58 seconds to play.
Then Rodgers and the Packers carved out the Cowboys heart. Rodgers converted a third-and-20 with a 36-yard completion to tight end Jared Cook with 12 seconds to go. The Packers’ field goal team flowed onto the field. Mason Crosby kicked a 51-yarder as time expired to send Green Bay to the NFC title game.
Prescott left the field, bemoaning the fact that his season was over. As a rookie, he convinced himself those plays Rodgers made and Crosby’s kick all were due to luck. He knows better now.
“Seven years later, having Mike as my coach, understanding now that, ‘oh, that was a play that they practiced time and time again,’” Prescott said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “Because we’ve practiced those situations, those things, time and time again.”
The Cowboys quarterback added: “It just shows the importance of the practice, of the details, of the communication, being on the same page, what to expect in those crucial moments.”
It’s a pretty mundane observation. But good coaches and good teams leave nothing to chance. Every scenario gets a look in practice. Plus, Prescott does have seven years of experience now. He still never has played in an NFC title game. There’s always this year, right?
Meanwhile, there’s one big reason why McCarthy isn’t really biting on questions about playing his old team in the playoffs. McCarthy coached the Packers for 13 seasons and won a Super Bowl title with them. (Coincidentally, the Super Bowl venue then is his current office now — AT&T Stadium). It’s because he mentioned it last year to his team in pre-game. Then the Cowboys lost in overtime at Lambeau Field.
McCarthy learned a lesson that day in Green Bay. It’s not about the coach.
“It’s a player’s game,” McCarthy said. “It always has been, always will be. That’s all it should be focused on. I believe there’s 24 hours in a day, seven days to prepare and if we’re not working on winning then it’s a waste of time.
“To put that on their hearts and they needed to speak on my behalf in the locker room, I won’t do that again.”