Dak Prescott Aims for Season Finale Despite Playoff Elimination

The Dallas Cowboys concluded their playoff hopes with a 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders on December 28, 2023. Despite the disappointing outcome of the season, quarterback Dak Prescott expressed his determination to play in the final game against the New York Giants. “I’ll have some fight back,” Prescott stated, emphasizing his commitment to finish the season strong.

Prescott faced a challenging game against the Commanders, enduring a season-high six sacks and being hurried 11 times. This pressure affected his performance, as he completed only 51.4% of his passes, connecting on 19 of 37 attempts for 307 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, he rushed four times for 24 yards. When questioned about his availability for the upcoming game, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer responded, “It’s Christmas. I’m going to enjoy Christmas, man. I’ll deal with that when I get looking back to the film, but definitely some eggnog. And we’re playing to win.”

A win against the Giants would prevent the Cowboys from finishing with a losing record for a second consecutive year. Prescott highlighted the significance of this game, saying there is a “big difference” between finishing with an 8-8-1 record or a 7-9-1 record. “A lot of pride and I think that’s another reason I want to play,” he explained. “In a season of me being healthy, I’ve never had, in all of my life, a season under .500. So that tie is going to come into play really well. So it’s a huge difference. It’s one of those things that I mean, yeah, it’s just pride. It’s pride honestly.”

The Cowboys have struggled in previous seasons, with Prescott’s teams finishing 6-10 in 2020 and 7-10 in 2024 when he missed games. This year marks only the third time that Prescott has started the majority of games without leading the Cowboys to the playoffs, following the 2017 and 2019 seasons. He has maintained discussions with Schottenheimer regarding his role moving forward, indicating his desire to start. “I love this game. I love any opportunity that I get to play it,” Prescott affirmed.

While Prescott is eager to compete, the potential for injury poses a significant risk. He is projected to count over $74 million against the salary cap in 2024, a figure that includes a base salary of $40 million. Schottenheimer acknowledged the concern regarding Prescott’s high number of hits during the game against Washington. “Again, we want to win,” he said. “Eight-eight-and-1, do the math, sounds way better than the alternative.”

The upcoming matchup against the Giants holds additional stakes for Prescott, who has historically performed well against them, winning 14 consecutive games. His last loss to New York occurred during his rookie season in 2016. Prescott believes that ending the season on a high note could create positive momentum heading into 2026. “Winning helps everything,” he stated. “Just finishing off with a win, two of them, would be great for us.”

Post-game, Prescott sported a sweatshirt with the phrase “Wake up happy.” He reflected on his mindset going forward, saying, “I’ll wake up happy for sure, but I’ll probably wake up a little sore too.” As the Cowboys prepare for their final game, all eyes will be on Prescott to see if he can lead his team to an optimistic finish.