NFL Week 17 Notebook: Kingsbury Keeps Focus Narrow, Dak Vows Change, and Burns Wants More Than Sacks
As the NFL calendar inches closer to the postseason, some teams are already looking ahead-whether it’s to next week, next year, or the next chapter of a player’s career. This week, we’re checking in on three NFC teams at very different crossroads: a Commanders squad navigating uncertainty, a Cowboys franchise trying to rediscover its footing, and a Giants star who’s tired of watching the playoffs from home.
Commanders: Kingsbury’s Future Can Wait-Week 17 Comes First
Kliff Kingsbury isn’t new to the coaching carousel. The former Cardinals head coach is now calling plays in Washington, and with head coaching vacancies likely to open up soon, his name is bound to surface in league circles. But if Kingsbury is eyeing a return to the big chair, he’s not letting on.
Asked about the possibility of pursuing another head coaching gig this offseason, Kingsbury kept it short and focused: “We’ll see how that plays out, but today I’m just trying to get one of these quarterbacks ready to play on a short week.”
It’s a classic coach answer, sure-but also a telling one. Washington’s quarterback situation remains fluid, and Kingsbury’s job right now is to prepare his offense for Week 17, not polish a résumé. Still, given his offensive pedigree and prior head coaching experience, don’t be surprised if his phone starts ringing once the regular season wraps.
Cowboys: Dak Prescott Promises Change After Another Disappointment
Another year, another missed opportunity. The Cowboys are staring down a second straight season without a playoff berth, and quarterback Dak Prescott isn’t hiding from the frustration. But he’s also not sitting still.
“We won’t be back here in this spot,” Prescott said, reflecting on a season that didn’t go as planned. “I feel like the last few times I’ve probably said that were after playoff losses. Each year has its own troubles… highs, lows, ebbs and flows.”
Prescott’s message was less about excuses and more about accountability. He emphasized controlling what he can-his preparation, his leadership, and now, increasingly, his voice in the organization. As a veteran quarterback, he’s earned that seat at the table, and he knows it’s time to use it.
“Maybe it’s speaking up and saying that this will help, or I think this can help,” he said. “Whatever it takes, I’m gonna do my damndest. And make sure that I’m influencing and encouraging everybody else around me, not just players, to do the same.”
That’s not just a quarterback talking-it’s a leader setting the tone for what comes next. Whether the Cowboys can turn that mindset into wins in 2026 remains to be seen, but Prescott clearly intends to be at the center of that effort.
Giants: Brian Burns Wants More Than Pro Bowl Numbers
Brian Burns is having the kind of season most edge rushers dream about-he’s second in the league in sacks and just hit a career high with 15. But for Burns, the shine of individual accolades is wearing thin.
“That’s probably the worst loss I’ve had,” Burns said after the Giants blew a 19-point fourth-quarter lead to the Broncos. “We’re balling for three and a half quarters, and then the way we lost was what made me so emotional. It’s like, ‘Damn, bro, can’t win for losing.’”
Burns has been a force off the edge all season, but the Giants’ record doesn’t reflect his impact. And that disconnect is clearly starting to wear on him.
“The individual success is cool,” he said. “But at the end of the day, you still want to win. I’ll never get used to losing… It takes a toll on you because it’s like, ‘I’ve been putting in all this work; I’m having success at my job, but at the end of the day, I still can’t get the end result, which is what I want.’”
Burns isn’t just venting-he’s voicing the kind of frustration that often signals a player evaluating his future. He wants to win, and he thought this year might give him a better shot. Instead, he’s left trying to keep his edge while the postseason slips further out of reach.
“Wishful thinking, (but) I did think I was going to have a better opportunity to win here,” he admitted.
Final Word
As the regular season winds down, teams like the Commanders, Cowboys, and Giants are facing very different realities-but they’re all dealing with the same underlying question: What comes next?
For Kingsbury, it might be another shot at running a team. For Prescott, it’s about reclaiming control and setting a new tone in Dallas. And for Burns, it’s a growing hunger for more than just sack totals.
The postseason may be out of reach for these teams, but the stakes are still high-and the decisions made over the next few weeks could shape the future in a big way.