“We say the division’s right in front of us. It is as long as we win,” Prescott said via ESPN. “And if you lose another game, then you’re probably checking to see what New York’s doing. You’re probably checking and watching the other teams more than we should.

“So yeah, I mean you got to win games, got to win division games. How big of a game this was, understanding how much they’re hurt on their offensive side, yeah, huge road win for us.“

With the halfway point of the schedule approaching, the Cowboys are keeping their hopes alive of overtaking the Giants and winning the division. Maintaining consistency and securing crucial divisional victories could prove to be key factors in their pursuit of the NFC East title.

NFC East standings after Week 7

Both the Cowboys and the Giants secured crucial victories, pulling away from their division rivals. Meanwhile, the Eagles and Commanders, both dealing with a significant number of injuries, have yet to find their footing in the NFC East.

Another chance to pull away

The New York Giants get a break on their bye week, while the rest of the division steps onto the field. The Dallas Cowboys host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and to wrap up the week’s action, we have a divisional clash as the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Landover to face the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.

Keep the foot on the gas

Beating the Eagles on Monday Night Football could have provided a major emotional boost for the Cowboys. Both Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer know they cannot afford to let up if they want to take the lead in the division.

“Nobody’s going to give it to us. Nobody’s going to say, ‘Yeah, you’re the better team. You got it,'” Prescott said. “That’s what’s so great about the NFL, so we’ve got to come out and earn it each and every week, and there’s going to be no difference coming next Sunday.”

Coach Schottenheimer also added: “I think it gets us right back into the hunt in the NFC East.”

Key takeaways

• The New York Giants lead the NFC East division standings after seven weeks.
• Dak Prescott highlighted the Cowboys’ road win against the injured Philadelphia Eagles.
• Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated the victory puts the team back in contention.

“I mean defense to me played a good enough game for us to go out there and win this and we just didn’t hold our own on offense,” Prescott revealed to the press once the game concluded, via Calvin Watkins on X.

At this point, it feels like there is always something that needs fixing in America’s Team. For now, in a more competitive NFC East than ever, their divisional rivals’ struggles are keeping the Cowboys in the hunt. However, it is clear that their level of play must improve significantly if they want to become legitimate contenders.

The Dallas offense fell short

The Cowboys’ offense hit a complete brick wall at Lambeau Field, getting shut out 17-0 in the first half and falling 23-13 to Green Bay. Dak Prescott threw for 258 yards and a late TD, but it took him a brutal 34-of-54 completions to get there (averaging a tiny 4.8 yards per attempt), while tossing two costly interceptions deep in Packers territory.

Dallas couldn’t buy any help on the ground either, managing just 48 rushing yards on 15 carries (with Javonte Williams leading the way with 41 yards and a TD). Between the run game being non-existent, 108 penalty yards killing drive momentum, and Green Bay stopping them twice on fourth down, the Cowboys constantly spun their wheels and couldn’t break through the Packers’ defense when it mattered.

Raise head quickly

Looking ahead, the Cowboys have a prime stretch to dust themselves off and build some real momentum starting in Week 7 with a heated divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field (Monday, October 26). They then head back home for Week 8 to host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium (Sunday, November 1), followed by a road trip in Week 9 to face the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium (Sunday, November 8).

After a tough stretch, getting a high-stakes rivalry game against Philly to spark the locker room followed by two extremely winnable matchups—especially playing at home against Arizona and taking on a beatable Colts squad—gives Dallas the perfect opportunity to right the ship and make a serious push back up the NFC standings.

Key takeaways

• Dak Prescott stated the defense played well enough to win against the Green Bay Packers.
• Dak Prescott threw for 258 yards and a late touchdown in the 23-13 loss.
• The Dallas Cowboys face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7 on Monday, October 26.

“Hope’s always gonna be there. That’s encouraging, obviously, but you don’t want to lose any games. And so, to me, the more you get caught up on that, the more you’re giving yourself leeway, ‘We can lose a game because nobody’s taking off with it,’ Prescott said via Jon Machota on X.

“Hell, it’s wide open for us to take off with it. That’s how I see it, and echoing that to the guys, and obviously they know that. They watch football on Sunday. They see it. They watched how some of those games ended, particularly in our division, right?,” he added. “And throughout the league, just how close this league is, and how small the margin is from a win and a loss. So, yeah, it’s all out there.”

The NFL is a league that rarely offers second chances, so the Cowboys will need to make the most of every opportunity that comes their way. Can Dak Prescott finally find the consistency he needs to turn Dallas into a legitimate contender?

Cowboys’ ups and downs so far

The Dallas Cowboys have had an inconsistent start to the 2026 NFL season, failing to build any real momentum through the opening stretch. Currently holding a 2-3 record, the team has alternated between flashes of explosive offensive execution and frustrating set-backs marked by defensive lapses and costly turnovers.

• Week 1: Lost @ New York Giants, 20–28
• Week 2: Won vs. Washington Commanders, 37–20
• Week 3: Lost vs. Baltimore Ravens, 31–34
• Week 4: Won @ Houston Texans, 34–30
• Week 5: Lost vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 16–24

NFC standings before Week 6

What’s next for America’s Team?

Over their next three games, the Cowboys face a challenging stretch as they travel to take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 18 (Week 6), visit their divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday, October 26 (Week 7), and return home to host the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, November 1 (Week 8).

Key takeaways

• Dak Prescott stated the Dallas Cowboys must raise their level of play rather than rely on division parity.
• The Dallas Cowboys hold a 2-3 record following an inconsistent start to the 2026 NFL season.
• The Dallas Cowboys play the Green Bay Packers away at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 18.

The incident happened as Prescott walked toward the locker room following the defeat. Video of the moment showed the Cowboys quarterback turning toward the man after hearing the remark, then responding when the individual appeared to make another comment. The confrontation quickly went viral, adding another talking point to an already difficult night for Dallas.

Prescott addressed the situation after the game, explaining that his frustration was not simply about being criticized. Instead, the veteran quarterback took issue with the man looking away after Dak turned toward him, before speaking again. The QB made clear that he believes people should be willing to stand behind their words, even when those comments provoke a reaction.

What did Dak Prescott say about the heated exchange with an employee?

Dak Prescott explained that he had no problem with someone expressing an opinion about the Cowboys’ performance, even if that opinion was harsh. What bothered him was the way the interaction unfolded after he looked at the person who made the comment.

The quarterback said he expected the man to stand by what he had said rather than avoid eye contact and continue speaking once Prescott turned away. “When he said it, I just happened to look at him, and at that point, he looked away. And when I turned my head back, he said something else. That’s the part that, just as a man or as just a person, feel free to speak your mind, just speak it. Don’t cower away from the reaction that you’re going to get.”

The exchange came after a loss that dropped Dallas to 2-3 and intensified scrutiny of the team’s performance. Prescott completed 24 of 42 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two interceptions in a game the Cowboys were expected to win.

Although he expressed frustration with the tunnel incident, Prescott also acknowledged the Buccaneers’ performance, making clear that the defeat was about more than one controversial comment.

“If you’re saying it’s embarrassing, say it’s embarrassing. If you’re saying it to me, then say it to me. Don’t go back on it. So, that’s all that was, and hate that it’s even being talked about, to be honest with you.”

Key takeaways

• Dak Prescott confronted a worker after the Cowboys’ 24-16 loss to Tampa Bay.
• Prescott urged the stadium employee to “not cower away” after calling the performance embarrassing.
• Prescott completed 24 of 42 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions vs Bucs.

The loss was especially frustrating because Tampa Bay was playing without Baker Mayfield, with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels making his second career start. However, the Buccaneers found ways to exploit Dallas on both sides of the ball, controlling possession and forcing costly turnovers. Prescott threw for 316 yards and a touchdown, but two interceptions contributed to another disappointing result for the Cowboys.

After the game, Prescott acknowledged that Dallas was expected to win and admitted that the performance came dangerously close to being embarrassing. Still, the quarterback stopped short of using that label because he believed it would take credit away from Tampa Bay’s performance and the work of head coach Todd Bowles.

What happened with Cowboys vs Bucs?

Dak Prescott made it clear that the Cowboys understood the expectations entering Thursday night’s matchup, but their own mistakes and turnovers were crucial.

With Tampa Bay winless and playing on the road with a rookie quarterback, Dallas had an opportunity to build momentum. Instead, the Buccaneers executed their game plan effectively, leaving Prescott and his teammates to deal with the consequences of a costly defeat.

“I think Schotty said it best in the locker room. In this league, you’ve got to win the games you’re supposed to win. And when a winless team comes into your home stadium on a Thursday night primetime game, yeah, we’re supposed to win that. It sucks. Right up there close to embarrassing but I don’t know if I would say that.”

Dak Prescott sends clear message after loss to Buccaneers

The Cowboys quarterback then explained why he was reluctant to describe the defeat as embarrassing, pointing to the quality of Tampa Bay’s coaching and the defensive strategy that helped the Buccaneers secure their first victory of the season. Prescott wanted to acknowledge that Dallas had been outplayed without diminishing what the opposing team accomplished.

“To use the word embarrassing, it’s tough. I feel like I’m discrediting the NFL if I use that, and particularly the Tampa Bay Bucs and the great Todd Bowles coach, defensive-coached team. The guy’s been a winning coach for a long time and whether he’s been a head coach or a defensive coordinator. The plan, what they did tonight, is the reason for that. To say embarrassing, I think I’d be discrediting them. But we were definitely supposed to win this game. It was a game we were supposed to have on paper.”

Prescott’s reaction highlighted the difficult position Dallas now faces after dropping to 2-3. The Cowboys have shown they can produce offensively, but turnovers and defensive struggles continue to undermine their efforts. With the Green Bay Packers next on the schedule, Prescott and the coaching staff will need to address those problems quickly if Dallas hopes to recover from a loss that few expected at home.

Key takeaways

• Dallas Cowboys fell to 2-3 after a 24-16 home loss to Tampa Bay.
• Dak Prescott threw two interceptions despite passing for 316 yards and one touchdown.
• Dak Prescott resisted calling the defeat embarrassing, citing respect for head coach Todd Bowles.

The decision-making around the clock quickly became a major point of criticism for both Schottenheimer and Dak Prescott. Dallas left Baltimore with seven seconds after the field goal, giving the Ravens an opportunity to win the game, which they ultimately did.

The most questioned play came on third-and-goal, when Prescott did not take a chance on a potential throw to George Pickens. After the game, Schottenheimer acknowledged that the decision was an initiation from him, taking responsibility for the controversial sequence as Jerry Jones expressed his frustration with mistakes made by both the players and coaching staff.

Brian Schottenheimer admits his mistake after Cowboys loss

Brian Schottenheimer did not shy away from the criticism and made it clear that he was willing to accept responsibility for what happened in the final moments. The Cowboys head coach also revealed that he had a conversation with Jerry Jones about the situation and said the team owner provided advice he valued.

“I’m man enough to take mistakes. I make a lot of mistakes. I’m certainly not perfect. And I know one thing, Jerry and I had a very good conversation about it. I explained it. He understands that there was a mistake that was made, and he was terrific. Great, sound advice. I value him. He’s been around the game a long time, just like I have, and he’s seen a lot of stuff.”

The Cowboys now have to put the Ravens loss behind them and prepare for their matchup against the Houston Texans. The controversial ending has put additional attention on Schottenheimer and Prescott, but Dallas still has an opportunity to respond on the field rather than allowing one late-game sequence to define its season.

The NFC East could also give the Cowboys some room to recover, with the division not looking particularly strong this season. Schottenheimer believes the conversation with Jones can ultimately help him improve as the Cowboys move forward.

“To me, that shows that Jerry and I are aligned very closely. This will make me better. I’ll be better. And again, I’m looking forward to lining up and playing this week against the Texans.”

Key takeaways

• Brian Schottenheimer took responsibility for the end-of-game play-calling mistakes in the Cowboys’ loss.
• Dallas failed to score from the 1-yard line with under 30 seconds left.
• The Cowboys will next prepare to play against the Houston Texans.

“Frustrated,” Prescott said, via the team’s website. “Frustrated as hell. Excuse me. Embarrassed. We don’t call ourselves the best offense, GOTI [Greatest Offense There Is], and get down to the one-yard line and don’t put it in.

“Yeah, it just (expletive). Not a lot of words or full explanation of it. Defense shouldn’t even have been in that position. Those guys were over there saying ‘it’s on us,’ absolutely not. We’ve got to put the game away, period.”

The Cowboys were in an ideal position to at least take the game to overtime. The rest is history: Tyler Loop’s kick with just one second left on the clock sealed the Ravens’ victory.

The Cowboys’ lack of awareness

The Cowboys blew it before Baltimore even got the ball back, mainly because their offense completely sputtered out right after tying the game at 31–31. With a chance to take the lead or at least drain the clock, Dallas went cold when it mattered most, getting stalled by self-inflicted mistakes, predictable play-calling, and a crucial failure to pick up key third-down conversions.

Instead of taking control of the game, America’s Team handed the ball right back to Baltimore with a few seconds left, setting up the painful 34–31 finish. These types of mistakes can prove very costly when it comes to the final stretch of the regular season.

Dak’s numbers at the Maracana

In the historic international matchup in Rio de Janeiro, Dak Prescott put up a solid individual stat line, completing 25 of 40 passes (62.5% completion rate) for 276 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. He added 19 rushing yards on 4 carries and finished with a 91.2 passer rating, but despite his efficient play through the air, it wasn’t quite enough to prevent the Cowboys’ heartbreaking defeat.

Back to the drawing board

Looking ahead, the Cowboys hit the road for a Week 4 matchup against the Houston Texans. They then return home to AT&T Stadium to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, before heading out on another tough road test against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 6.

Key takeaways

• The Cowboys dropped to a 1-2 record following their defeat against the Ravens.
• Tyler Loop converted a game-winning kick with just one second remaining.
• Dallas moves forward to prepare for a Week 4 matchup against the Houston Texans.

Dak Prescott understands why the loss was frustrating, but the Cowboys quarterback does not believe one game should define the team’s season. With Dallas preparing for its Week 2 home opener against the Washington Commanders, Prescott was asked about fans already becoming impatient and questioning whether this year’s team will be different.

His response was direct. Prescott acknowledged that the Cowboys were just as disappointed as their supporters after starting the season 0-1, but he also reminded fans that there are still 16 games remaining and plenty of time for Dallas to change the narrative.

Dak Prescott sends clear message to frustrated Cowboys fans

Dak Prescott made it clear that he loves Cowboys fans, but he does not feel the need to respond to every supporter who is already losing faith in the team. For the veteran quarterback, the people who truly believe in Dallas will continue supporting the team throughout the long NFL season.

“I mean, it’s a long season. I love our fans, but I don’t necessarily feel like I need to speak to that fan, you know? Sorry for them. If they’re a real fan, they’ll stick with it. They’ll trust it. They’ll believe in it. And at the end of the day like we just said, it’s one game.”

Prescott also made clear that the Cowboys are not satisfied with the way the season began. The quarterback said nobody inside the locker room was more frustrated than the players themselves, while pointing out that the team had entered the season with the same excitement surrounding its offseason changes and training camp.

Dallas now has an opportunity to respond immediately against Washington, and Prescott wants the team’s supporters to turn their frustration into energy inside AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys quarterback’s message was ultimately about perspective: the loss to the Giants matters, but it is only the first result of a 17-game regular season.

With expectations still extremely high around the Cowboys, the pressure will only increase if they fail to respond in Week 2. Prescott, however, is asking fans to remain patient and judge the team over the course of the season rather than after one disappointing performance.

“Nobody’s more pissed than myself and these guys in here. We didn’t want to start 0-1. We’re as excited as any fan out there about the offseason and things we’ve done in training camp. So, turn that energy and come to the game this Sunday and be as loud as you can. We appreciate it.”

Even though head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted the physicality brought by the Giants was too much for the Cowboys, many believe there was one play where the game was lost for Dallas. That was Prescott’s costly interception before the end of the first half.

“Yes. Yes, [that was when the game turned]. We all know you can’t make it on a play. But a play sometimes is the decisive point,” Jones stated during an interview on 105.3 The FAN. “And there’s no question that [Prescott’s interception] was impactful for the entire game, what happened to us.”

The quarterback wants to move on. Prescott made that clear when he acknowledged the loss to New York while urging Dallas to stay focused on the 2026 NFL season. However, the loss stings, and he didn’t get such grace from America’s Team’s owner.

Prescott’s first INT in a while

Although his pick on Sunday night against the Giants wasn’t the first time the Cowboys’ signal-caller made an eyebrow-raising play in primetime, it was indeed his first turnover in a long time. Obviously, the fact that it was only Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season and Dallas hadn’t played since January helps.

Still, Prescott had entered the season with a four-game interception-less streak. Dak had finished the last season stringing together several clean games. However, he didn’t have the best of starts to the campaign.

Prescott finished the 28-20 loss in New York with 175 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Prior to Week 1, Prescott’s last interception in an NFL game was on Dec. 4, 2025, when he threw two picks in a 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions.

It’s far from ideal. Especially with the way the game went. It never really looked as if the Cowboys had any chance of coming back in the game. Learning they may be behind the Giants in the race for the NFC East—and discovering that one game into the season—is less than encouraging.

Still, the NFL regular season is long. It’s not a sprint but a marathon. Prescott understands that and never lost track of it, not even in the aftermath of the primetime defeat in East Rutherford. His hope is that the rest of the team and fanbase acknowledge it, too.

“I know our standard. Don’t change, don’t flinch, don’t blink,” Dak Prescott stated postgame, via the Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt. “This is a long year. We have to stick together.”

Prescott’s 2026 debut

Tyler Smith’s injury-related absence can serve as an excuse. The offensive line struggled, especially against second-year pass rusher Abdul Carter, who wreaked havoc wherever he was lined up. That led to Prescott being under duress all night long and having to stay alert in the pocket. He was never sacked, but he had a couple of close calls.

Prescott looked a gear off with his accuracy, and he made a couple of decisions that left fans scratching their heads. The biggest of them came late in the second quarter. Before the half, Prescott forced a throw on 3rd-and-5 with 58 seconds left in the quarter. His pass landed nowhere near a receiver but instead into the sliding hands of safety Jevon Holland.

Off that turnover in great field position, the Giants broke the deadlock with a touchdown and headed into the locker room with a 14-7 lead. They got the ball to start the second half, and Jaxson Dart commanded an eight-minute drive that ended with another touchdown.

That was when the game felt all but decided. There were over 20 minutes left, but it looked bleak for Dallas. And it was. Prescott finished the night with 22 completions on 34 attempts for 175 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Cowboys must bounce back

Indeed, losing on the road to a divisional opponent and in such an overwhelming fashion—not on the scoreboard, but on the playing field—is a terrible way to start an NFL season. However, it would be absurd to throw in the towel one game into the year. This loss will only sting and be as painful for its playoff hopes as Dallas allows it to be.

The last thing they can afford is to start pointing blaming fingers around the room. Even though former wide receiver Dez Bryant aimed at George Pickens and his lackluster performance to start his franchise-tag year, Dallas can’t let the outside noise into the building.

Cowboys face Commanders in Week 2

The Cowboys will get one moment to lick their wounds before putting their pads back on. And what better opportunity to do so than to take down another NFC East foe back home in the Lone Star State?

Next Sunday (Sept. 20), the Cowboys will host the 0-1 Washington Commanders. Both sides will be coming off road losses within the division, so it will be a battle of equal desperation. Even in that sense, though, everything is bigger in Texas, and the Cowboys will be bearing the heavier weight on their shoulders.

The first Sunday Night Football of the 2026 NFL season will feature a heated showdown between two NFC East rivals with star starting quarterbacks. Jaxson Dart and Dak Prescott will go head to head at MetLife Stadium. It will be the second time both franchise QBs meet.

After a busy summer with multiple appearances in television and across the country, Jameis Winston will resume his NFL quarterback duties and be the Giants’ backup signal-caller against the Cowboys. As for the Cowboys, Sam Howell will be the backup quarterback in Week 1 behind Prescott.

Emergency quarterbacks

In the NFL, teams must always brace for the worst and prepare for injuries that could potentially derail even the best of game plans. Although both sides will roll into Sunday night’s matchup with a two-man QB room, they have named their third emergency quarterbacks.

New York will count on Jake Haener as its emergency QB, while Dallas will have Joe Milton III in that role. Both quarterbacks share a similarity in that they were released and re-signed to the practice squad.

Per NFL rules, emergency QBs can only be activated if both the starting and backup quarterbacks are injured. If that happens, both the G-Men and the Boys will be in much more trouble than simply playing Haener or Milton, respectively.

Dart’s stats against Cowboys

Although he’s only played once against Dallas in his NFL career, Dart is 1-0 against America’s Team. Dart earned the win over the Cowboys in Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season and will vie to do so again in Week 1 of the new season. Last year, in his lone appearance against Dem Boys, Dart completed 22 of 32 pass attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 32 yards.