Prescott Leads Cowboys To 31-21 Win - The Mothership
The Dallas Cowboys move to 2-0 on the season and in the division, thanks to another impressive performance by quarterback Dak Prescott.
Division games on the road are never easy, especially in the long history of this NFC East rivalry. But there were times in this one when Dak Prescott sure made it look so.
In leading the Dallas Cowboys to a 31-21 victory at the Washington Redskins, the quarterback overcame a slow start to lead the team’s offense to another outstanding week of work. For the second straight game, the Cowboys earned points on five consecutive possessions and again put up 30 points.
Given that kind of production, Dallas dominated the stat sheet, finishing with 474 total yards of offense to just 255 for Washington. The Cowboys also converted 64 percent of their third-down opportunities and were 3-for-4 in red zone chances. They also held the time of possession, 33:22 to 26:38.
All of this was due in large part to Prescott, who needed a quarter to get going, but once he did, was nearly unstoppable. He completed 86.7 percent of his passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns for an impressive 123.5 passer rating.
Eatman: Dak Passing Out Candy – To Everyone - Nick Eatman, The Mothership
Dak is playing well — and he is having no problem with spreading the ball around to his weapons.
The only people not loving this are the ones who might like to fill up their fantasy team with Cowboys players. Unless you’ve got Dak, or maybe Ezekiel Elliott, you’re probably going to be a little disappointed on some weeks because it’s just impossible to get everyone the ball every week.
That’s not just a good thing, but a great thing.
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Last week, Prescott threw four touchdowns to four different players. This week, it was three TDs to three different players.
Right now, Dak Prescott looks like a kid who has too many toys in the toy box.
Five things from Cowboys win over Redskins, another sharp Dak Prescott performance - Clarence Hill, The Star-Telegram
Prescott has played like a different quarterback since the Cowboys acquired Amari Cooper, and that has only gone to another level through two games this season.
DAK PRESCOTT’S ENCORE AND STILL NICE
There was little chance Dak Prescott was going to match last week’s perfection on the road against the Redskins and a defense that is much better than the Giants. He had a tipped pick on the second drive of the game. The Cowboys had just one first down after their first three drives. He was 4 of 6 for 19 yards and an interception after the first quarter.
Then Prescott became Prescott again, leading the Cowboys to touchdowns on three drives with touchdown passes to three different receivers to make the score 21-7. The second one included a 42-yard run by Prescott and a stiff-arm on cornerback Josh Norman, who questioned Prescott’s abilities during the week while saying the Giants defense made it easy on him.
When the Cowboys sealed the game with a touchdown run by Ezekiel Elliott to make the score 31-14, Prescott tied a career high with 18 straight completions.
He was 14 for 14 in the second half.
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott nearly flawless after early interception - Todd Archer, ESPN
One of the best things about Dak Prescott is his ability to respond to adversity. That was no different on Sunday when the Cowboys quarterback played exceptionally well following an early interception.
After the turnover, Prescott completed all but three of his passes and threw touchdown passes to Devin Smith, Jason Witten and Amari Cooper. Prescott did not miss a pass in the second half of the game either, on his way to tying a personal best with 18 straight completions.
Prescott finished with 26-of-30 for 269 yards with three touchdowns and also ran for 60 yards, including a career-long 42-yarder. Through two games, he has completed a ridiculous 82.2% of his passes.
Prescott’s seven touchdown passes through two games are tied for the most in Cowboys history. In 1966, Don Meredith opened the season with seven touchdown passes in two games. Prescott did not throw his seventh touchdown pass last season until the sixth game of the year.
The Cowboys have said they will be an Ezekiel Elliott-led offense, but through two games Prescott is changing perceptions about what not only the passing game can be, but what he can be as the quarterback.
Garrett high on his starting QB - ESPN (VIDEO)
Jason Garrett spoke highly of no. 4 on Sunday afternoon.
Jason Garrett praises Dak Prescott and his command of the offense after the Cowboys’ win in Washington.
Prescott not motivated by Norman’s critique - Todd Archer, ESPN
Josh Norman believed that anybody could do what Dak did in week one, but Prescott was not too motivated by that statement on Sunday.
Yes, Dak Prescott heard Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman was not impressed with his perfect performance in the Dallas Cowboys’ season-opening win against the New York Giants.
But it’s not like that drove Prescott to play well Sunday.
“I’m not going to allow him to be a motivation to me,” Prescott said after the Cowboys beat the Redskins 31-21 Sunday at FedEx Field. “I’ve got enough things that motivate me, that get me going. What somebody says, good or bad about me, definitely isn’t the case, especially when he’s not on this team.”
Defense was supposed to be Washington’s strength, but it again proves not to be the case - Mark Bullock, The Athletic
From the opponent’s side of things, Bullocks writes on how what was supposed to be a strength for Washington has turned out to be a cause for worry.
Washington’s 31-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys Sunday was very similar to the Game 1 loss to the Eagles. The Redskins took an early lead, then gave up explosive plays, fell behind and was never able to catch up.
After looking lethargic as Washington took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, Dallas came to life in the second. A Tress Way punt pinned the Cowboys to the 5-yard line midway through the quarter. Dallas drove to the 49 before hitting on an explosive play to tie the game.
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It was an ugly game for the Redskins’ defense. They gave up too many explosive plays in key situations. The Cowboys were 7-of-11 on third down and constantly made plays to extend drives when they needed to. The defense was supposed to be Washington’s strength, but so far it has looked a lot like the late season 2018 Redskins’ defense, giving up too many explosive plays and not getting off the field on third down.
Talks between Cowboys, Dak Prescott have stalled - NFL.com
Prior to the game on Sunday, it was reported that talks between the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott have stalled. Ian Rapoport explained why.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport relayed that the length of a potential extension could be the issue holding up negotiations between Dallas and its franchise quarterback during Sunday’s edition of NFL GameDay Morning.
”My understanding is these Dak Prescott extension talks which Jerry Jones termed imminent just a week ago have reached a little bit of an impasse,” Rapoport said. “It doesn’t seem like things will happen for the foreseeable future. Obviously that could change but that is the read right now. ...
”The Cowboys have signed a lot of their key players to really long-term deals. Zeke Elliott the latest all their offensive lineman are on long long-term deals. But then look at the recent deals quarterbacks have done. Four-year extension for [Rams QB] Jared Goff. Four-year extension for [Eagles QB] Carson Wentz. It would make a lot of sense if Dak is holding out for some of those shorter term deals to cash in at a sooner time.”
Sources: Cooper intentionally patient in talks - Adam Schefter, ESPN
Along the same lines, Adam Schefter reported that Amari Cooper is “intentionally patient” with talks regarding his contract extension. Obviously, Dallas would like to get things done with its quarterback and star wideout.
But one player less likely to re-sign this season is wide receiver Amari Cooper, league sources told ESPN.
Cooper would like to be in Dallas, and the Cowboys would like him there. But of all the Cowboys entering the last year of their contracts and connected to a new deal, none has been more patient than Cooper -- and this strategy has worked out well so far.
Cooper has watched Saints receiver Michael Thomas land a deal that pays him $20 million per season, and Falcons receiver Julio Jones top that with a deal that pays him $22 million per season.
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