As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday, quarterback Dak Prescott isn’t holding back on the urgency. With the Cowboys standing at 3-4, Prescott has declared this game a “must-win,” emphasizing the critical need to avoid slipping to 3-5 and stay within reach of playoff contention.
“Yeah. H*ll, to me every game is,” Prescott said, “but obviously [we’re] 3-4. As I’ve said, lot of season left, but the first start to be able to say that confidently is getting back even, especially having a couple of home ones after that.”
The Cowboys, fresh off two back-to-back 12-5 seasons, find themselves in unfamiliar territory and at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. With the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles leading the NFC East, Dallas sits 2.5 games behind Washington and two behind Philadelphia, leaving them just a 3% chance of capturing the division according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. More daunting is the 87.4% probability they miss the playoffs altogether.
Prescott’s own numbers have taken a hit this season. Following a near-MVP year with 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions, his stats this year tell a different story: just 10 touchdowns against eight interceptions and a quarterback rating that’s fallen to 84.5. Having recently signed a $240 million extension, he’s fully aware of what’s on the line, not just for the team but for his own leadership.
However, the veteran quarterback knows how to turn things around. He guided the Cowboys from a 3-5 start to the playoffs in 2018, finishing that year 10-6. Prescott’s confidence and experience in navigating such a rocky path may prove invaluable as Dallas heads into a crucial game against a surging Falcons team sitting at 5-3.
“We know what it takes in this league,” Prescott commented earlier in the week. “You get hot, you get rolling, that’s all you’re looking to do. That’s my point, that this is frustrating but nobody is giving up. Nobody is shook … We just got to focus up.”
Sunday’s game is not a mathematical do-or-die for the Cowboys, but the stakes are high. A loss would make any shot at the division slim to none, while a win could be the first step in restoring faith and keeping their playoff aspirations alive. As Dallas travels to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, the Cowboys are looking for more than just a victory—they’re searching for a shift in momentum as the second half of their season unfolds.
