Dak Prescott Embraces the Pressure as Cowboys Enter Must-Win Stretch
With four games left on the schedule and no room for error, Dak Prescott isn’t shying away from the pressure. In fact, he’s leaning into it.
“It’s not heavy,” Prescott said Thursday, reflecting on the high-stakes situation the Cowboys have created for themselves. “Even if I feel it - and obviously I think about it a lot - I want that. That’s unfortunately the situation that we’ve put ourselves in, and that’s the only way that we can get out of it.”
At 6-6-1, the Dallas Cowboys are walking a tightrope. One slip, and the playoff picture could vanish.
But the door isn’t closed just yet. Despite a tough loss to Detroit, the Cowboys are still in the hunt, thanks in part to Philadelphia’s recent three-game skid.
The defending Super Bowl champs lead the NFC East, but their stumble has kept things interesting. And with a Sunday night showdown against the 5-8 Minnesota Vikings looming, Dallas knows what’s at stake.
A Playoff Path - But It’s a Tight One
The formula is simple, but unforgiving: Dallas needs to win out. A 4-0 finish, paired with the Eagles splitting their final four games, would be enough to punch a postseason ticket.
But even one more loss means Philly would need to drop at least three of their last four. And looking at the schedules, the Eagles may have the slightly smoother road ahead.
Prescott admitted he’s been doing the mental math.
“A hundred percent, I think about it all the time and often,” he said. “At different times, I feel great about it, and different times, it’s, ‘Aw … I hope those guys lose.’” He caught himself before finishing the thought, but the point was clear: the Cowboys aren’t just playing their own game - they’re scoreboard watching too.
But for Prescott, there’s a strange kind of clarity in that pressure. “It’s something that I love and I’m embracing at this point because it’s the only way out,” he said.
Vikings Riding Momentum - and a Young QB’s Best Game Yet
The Vikings, meanwhile, are trying to build something of their own. After a turbulent year under center, rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy finally turned in the kind of performance Minnesota had been hoping for when they handed him the keys.
Last week’s 31-0 dismantling of Washington was McCarthy’s breakout moment. He threw three touchdown passes - a career first - and didn’t turn the ball over. His 129.2 passer rating was a massive leap from the 51.3 average he’d posted in his previous five starts.
“That’s something I expect every week,” McCarthy said. “But it’s about being consistent. That’s the true measure of performance - doing it over and over again.”
McCarthy’s development has been a rollercoaster, and it’s clear the Vikings are still figuring out who they are with him under center. But last week was a step in the right direction.
Defense Rising - But Takeaways Still Missing
Minnesota’s defense has been quietly solid when healthy, ranking top 10 in several key categories: eighth in yards allowed per game, seventh in yards per play, fourth in sacks per pass attempt, and third in red-zone touchdown rate. But one piece has been missing - takeaways.
After leading the league with 33 a year ago, the Vikings have just 14 this season, tied for 20th. Against Washington, though, they finally flipped the script.
Two interceptions and a fumble recovery helped Minnesota control the game from start to finish. Veteran safety Harrison Smith, who snagged one of those picks, now leads all active NFL players with 38 career interceptions - fourth in franchise history.
Smith credited head coach Kevin O’Connell for lighting a spark with a pregame speech that reminded players of the love they had for the game back in high school.
“That hit home with a lot of guys,” Smith said, visibly emotional. “Just getting a chance to play in the NFL, it’s fun.”
Cowboys Still Searching for Their Identity Under Schottenheimer
This is Brian Schottenheimer’s first season as an NFL head coach after 25 years as an assistant, and it’s been anything but straightforward. The Cowboys made waves before the season by trading away star pass rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. Then came the midseason move to bring in Quinnen Williams from the Jets - a trade that sparked a three-game win streak and briefly reignited playoff hopes.
Now, with the postseason on the line, Dallas is hoping this December stretch can serve as a preview of what a full season with Williams might look like. There’s also cautious optimism around the offense, especially if wide receiver George Pickens returns to form and resumes his role alongside CeeDee Lamb. That duo has flashed potential, but Pickens drew criticism after appearing to ease up on a few routes in the loss to Detroit.
“We are trying to establish something, establish a culture, finish strong,” Clark said. “If we are who we say we are, we’ve got to just keep playing, finish out the season and see what happens.”
Ground Game Giving Vikings New Life
If there’s one thing that’s helped stabilize the Vikings during McCarthy’s growing pains, it’s been the run game. Known for favoring the pass, O’Connell has shifted gears in recent weeks, leaning more heavily on the ground attack - and it paid off in a big way last week.
With a 56% run-pass ratio against Washington - their highest under O’Connell in four seasons - the Vikings controlled the tempo and the clock. Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones combined for 128 yards on 25 carries, averaging over five yards per attempt. That success was no coincidence: for the first time all year, Minnesota had its full starting offensive line on the field.
The result? A 19-play, 98-yard drive that chewed up 12 minutes of clock - the longest drive in the NFL in four years.
“Any time that you can move the ball like that, it opens up the whole offense,” said right guard Will Fries. “So for us to be able to continue to have success, we’ve got to keep the run game going. We’ve got to be able to lean on defensive lines and front sevens.”
What’s Next
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Dallas. Every game from here on out is a must-win, and even that might not be enough without some help. But for Prescott and the Cowboys, the focus is clear: control what you can, and keep fighting.
Minnesota, on the other hand, is playing with house money - a young quarterback coming off his best performance, a defense finding its groove, and a run game that suddenly looks formidable. Sunday night’s matchup is more than just a game between two teams with playoff hopes. It’s a clash between one team trying to salvage its season - and another trying to build something for the future.