Cowboys say bout vs. 49ers ‘not just another game,’ motivated to face team that ended their past two seasons

Following the Dallas Cowboys’ 38-3 smackdown of the New England Patriots in Week 4 that ran their record to 3-1 in 2023, the page quickly turned to their Week 5 “Sunday Night Football” showdown against the 4-0 San Francisco 49ers, the team that ended their 2021 and 2022 seasons. Looking back at the Cowboys’ 19-12 NFC divisional round road defeat against the 49ers wasn’t something quarterback Dak Prescott was excited to do postgame on Sunday. 

“It’s obvious,” Prescott said when asked about how he felt after the Cowboys’ season-ending loss to the 49ers last January. “I mean, we’re so far past that, to be honest with you, that’s obvious. You just want to piss me off going into this week, and I appreciate that. I do actually. I do. I appreciate that.”

When asked if that defeat served as a motivator for the Cowboys, Prescott replied honestly. 

“Every day,” Prescott said. “Every day.”

The Cowboys’ last two seasons, both of which were 12-win campaigns, came to an end against San Francisco come playoff time. First, there was the 23-17 defeat in the 2021 NFC wild-card round at AT&T Stadium. Last season, it was a 19-12 slip-up in Santa Clara, California at Levi’s Stadium. The 2023 49ers only have one giveaway this season, tied for the fewest in the league through the first month of the season. The Cowboys defense has forced 10 turnovers this season, tied for the second most in the NFL. Many NFL coaches and players alike choose to downplay the the importance of individual regular-season games. Dallas isn’t doing that this week. 

“It’s an important game,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Monday. “You understand the history and there is obviously a lot of tradition with this game. That’s all part of it. You live to play in these kinds of games. You dream to play in these types of games. You don’t want to make it bigger than it is, but the reality is it’s not just another…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-say-bout-vs-49ers-not-just-another-game-motivated-to-face-team-that-ended-their-past-two-seasons/

Author : Garrett Podell

Publish date : 2023-10-04 15:04:25

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