Dallas’ Prescott says he’s up to the challenge
Quarterback vows to show he can carry his weight vs. Giants
FRISCO, Texas — Challenge accepted. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was straight to the point.
He didn’t mince any words. He didn’t waste any breath.
He simply looked to at the reporter and said: “Challenge accepted, challenge accepted.”
It was an answer to a comment from New York Giants safety Landon Collins, who said the key to stopping the Cowboys was to “make sure we (take) the air out of their running game. Put the ball into Dak’s hands and I think we have a better shot at winning.”
Prescott responded the way he should.
He said challenge accepted.
He was talking about Collins, but it might as well have been a response to all the doubters and critics who have come out of the woodwork since the disappointing 16-8 season-opening loss to the
Carolina Panthers.
He completed 19 of 29 passes for 170 yards. He was sacked six times and had a fumble. It was the seventh time in the past nine games he had didn’t reach 200 yards passing.
And don’t let the 65.5 percent completion percentage fool you. Prescott missed a number of opportunities because of errant throws and misreads.
So not only has the Cowboys’ passing game been called into question by more than just Collins but so has Prescott’s standing as the team’s franchise quarterback of the future.
So challenge accepted.
“I think he does a remarkable job,” Dallas coach Jason Garrett said of Prescott. “I think he’s mature beyond his years. He’s handled everything incredibly well right from the start. Coming in as a rookie and starting in Year One and handling all of the different things that went with that. We had success that year and more adversity at different times throughout that year and in subsequent years, again, he handles it well.
“He’s amazing in terms of his mental toughness, his focus, his approach every day, the spirit that he brings, the leadership that he brings, his work ethic is off the charts. He’s an incredibly well-respected guy in our locker room by his teammates and by his coaches. The example he sets is exactly what we want our quarterback to set each and every day.”
And now that he’s in the current crucible they don’t expect him to shy away. And Prescott hasn’t.
“He has been great,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said.