Dak Prescott calls Week 9 game vs. Atlanta a must win

Two consecutive losses have resulted in the Dallas Cowboys falling below .500 with a 3-4 record. Both came at the hands of playoff contenders (Detroit + San Francisco) with more on the way. Three of the next four games are against current division leaders, beginning Sunday against Atlanta.

Following the slip in recent weeks, quarterback Dak Prescott has called the Week 9 matchup a must-win contest. Every game is one they need to win in his eyes but considering their record and eventually having a chance to win a few at home, going on the road and beating the Falcons is a must for Prescott.

“Hell to me every game is 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,” Prescott said via ESPN’s Todd Archer. “Yeah.”

Piling up losses early in the regular season has not been usual for the Cowboys during Mike McCarthy’s tenure. As the Jones family will be quick to remind you, Dallas has had 36 wins throughout the past three regular seasons. Only the Kansas City Chiefs had more during the time frame.

Home record has been another point of pride for the Cowboys under McCarthy, going undefeated at AT&T Stadium during the 2023 season. Prescott believes securing the win they must have vs. Atlanta sets them up well with two upcoming home games against Philadelphia and Houston.

Accomplishing the goal would bring the Cowboys back to 4-4, something they can work with moving forward. Falling to 3-5 would put them in real danger of sliding against a tough schedule. Either way, certainly not a position anybody expected to be in when the season began.