Despite the Dallas Cowboys‘ 38-3 win against the New England Patriots, Dak Prescott knows there is still work to be done for the offense.
Prescott says last week’s loss allowed the team to refocus, and it showed. The team dominated in almost every way in Week 4.
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Cowboys’ Red-Zone Troubles
The Cowboys went into this game wanting to fix their three downfalls from last week: the number of penalties, run defense, and not scoring in the red zone.
If there was a least-dominate area of the game, it was the red-zone production.
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Although the Cowboys made it to the red zone five times during the game, they only scored one touchdown in those attempts.
That touchdown was a three-yard rush from Prescott to rookie Hunter Luepke for his first NFL touchdown.
Hunter Luepke scores his first career touchdown in the NFL! 👏@dallascowboys continue their domination 💪 pic.twitter.com/1QUQn0TaDW
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 1, 2023
When asked how it felt to score in the red zone in the fourth quarter, the quarterback admittedly wasn’t happy with the performance, saying, “Yeah, [we were] pretty efficient but still not to our standard, honestly. To have as many opportunities as we had in the red zone and [just] have some field goals.”
Kicker Brandon Aubrey continued to play at an elite level and was responsible for 12 of the 38 points scored.
But considering that’s the same amount of points the offense contributed in touchdown points, there is still work to be done.
The quarterback credited the Patriots’ defense for holding the offense outside the 20-yard line marker that would be considered the red zone.
“It’s just really a credit to their defense, their scheme, and them trying to take away the best players once you get inside the red zone. So, he answered,” said Prescott.
The 30-year-old says they will continue to focus on being productive in the red zone, mentioning, “We’re going to try to get better at it, and when we do, it’s going to be dangerous.”
Is Jake Ferguson Just Getting Warmed Up as Dak Prescott’s Offensive Weapon?
Tight end Jake Ferguson was clutch during this game, leading the team in receiving yards. He had 77 yards for seven receptions, averaging 11 yards per catch.
He has been on an uphill trend every week of the season, with Sunday’s game being the most receiving yards he has ever had in a game.
Prescott described Ferguson as a physical and energetic player who is just “scratching the surface to a long successful career for him.”
Not only is Ferguson a receiving threat with yards-after-catch ability, but his run blocking has been a vital part of the team’s West Coast offensive scheme.
“It’s no surprise to me as [he is] a guy that loves the game of football. Not many people in that locker room love the game more than Ferg does. He shows it each and every day with his preparation, with the way that he approaches practice, and the extra time he spends on the film working with Coach [Lunda] Wells. It’s no surprise, and it’s only going to get better,” said Prescott.
Why Is Prescott Pissed Off After a Win?
The Cowboys have their biggest challenge of the season as they take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football.
In case you’re wondering, the 49ers are currently 4-0 and at the top of the NFC West.
The 49ers have been the Cowboys’ boogie man the last two seasons. The Cowboys lost to the 49ers in 2022 in the Wild Card round, ending their promising season with an even more bitter taste in their mouths than from the previous year.
When Prescott was asked about the team’s feelings after leaving the locker room from that loss, he was noticeably annoyed and said, “It’s obvious. We’re so far past that, to be honest with you, that’s obvious. You just want to piss me off going into this weekend. I appreciate that. I do, actually, I do. Yeah, appreciate that.”
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Overall, Prescott is looking forward to turning the page to focus on that matchup starting Monday.