Prescott's Pride Drives Final Game Push Despite Playoff Miss
Despite the Dallas Cowboys' playoff elimination, quarterback Dak Prescott remains determined to start in next week's season finale against the New York Giants, driven by what he calls pure pride and a desire to avoid a losing record.
Following Thursday's 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders in Landover, Maryland, Prescott made his intentions clear: he wants to play, regardless of the meaningless nature of the final game.
"I'll have some fight back," Prescott stated. "Obviously I understand being approached about it, but the conversations we've already had about it are for me to play."
Performance Under Pressure
The Cowboys quarterback endured a punishing performance against Washington, absorbing six sacks and eleven hurries. For the first time this season, Prescott failed to complete 60% of his passes, connecting on just 19 of 37 attempts for 307 yards and two touchdowns. He added 24 rushing yards on four carries.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer remained diplomatically noncommittal about Prescott's status for the Giants game. "It's Christmas," Schottenheimer said. "I'm going to enjoy Christmas, man. I'm going to have some eggnog. I'll deal with that when I get looking back to the film."
Pride and Historical Context
A victory against New York would prevent the Cowboys from suffering consecutive losing seasons for the first time since enduring three straight 5-11 campaigns from 2000-02. This statistical milestone carries significant weight for Prescott personally.
"Lot of pride and I think that's another reason I want to play," Prescott explained. "In a season of me being healthy, I've never had, in all of my life, career, a season under .500. So that tie is going to come into play really well."
The quarterback emphasized the substantial difference between finishing 8-8-1 versus 7-9-1, viewing it as a matter of professional integrity rather than mere statistics.
Financial Considerations
The decision carries significant financial implications. Prescott is scheduled to count more than $74 million against the salary cap, with a $40 million base salary, though the Cowboys plan restructuring for cap relief. Any injury would create substantial complications for the franchise's financial planning.
Schottenheimer acknowledged these concerns, expressing displeasure with the physical punishment Prescott absorbed against Washington while maintaining the team's commitment to winning.
Giants Dominance
History favors Prescott in this matchup. He has won 14 consecutive games against the Giants and hasn't lost to New York since his rookie season in 2016. Even this season's Week 2 victory required a dramatic 64-yard field goal to force overtime.
"Winning helps everything," Prescott concluded. "Just finishing off with a win, two of them, would be great for us."
The quarterback's determination reflects a broader principle about professional accountability and maintaining standards regardless of external circumstances. In an era where load management and strategic rest have become commonplace, Prescott's insistence on playing demonstrates old-school competitive values.
As the Cowboys prepare for what amounts to a pride game, the decision ultimately rests on balancing individual determination against organizational prudence, a calculation that will define how Dallas approaches its offseason planning.