Advertisement

Dallas Cowboys swallow bitter pill but look forward to future runs

By The Sports Xchange
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) warms up prior to the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoff game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January 15, 2017. Photo by Shane Roper/UPI
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) warms up prior to the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoff game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January 15, 2017. Photo by Shane Roper/UPI | License Photo

FRISCO, Texas -- Losing to the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers in thrilling fashion was a huge letdown and major disappointment for the Dallas Cowboys after going 13-3 in the regular season.

After securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Cowboys had realistic expectations of reaching the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1995 season before their 34-31 loss to the Packers in the NFC Divisional round on Sunday.

Advertisement

But looking on the sunny side for the Cowboys, it was not the end but a beginning of a bright future and more potential runs toward the Super Bowl because of the emergence of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott.

This was the second time the Cowboys had a 13-3 record and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs only to lose in the divisional round.

Though disappointed, owner Jerry Jones says Sunday's loss doesn't seem as bad as the one to the New York Giants in 2007.

Advertisement

"I did see that the difference is that when I look at what's ahead for us," Jones said. "When I look at the valiant way we played to make this thing get to be as competitive as it turned out near the end and I saw the we did that, then I'm buoyed in the short term more so than what happened to us in the ensuing years after '07.

"I don't think I'm being an optimist. I don't feel like being an optimist. I just feel like giving Green Bay its due. The whole organization. They beat a good team out there."

The Cowboys rallied because Prescott, who took over for injured Tony Romo to start the season, wouldn't waver. He nearly matched Rodgers play for play, passing for 302 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for a game-tying two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.

Prescott, who had the best statistical season of any rookie quarterback in NFL history, continued to set records. He became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to pass for three touchdowns in the playoffs.

Prescott's play reinforced the team's decision to stick with Prescott after Romo returned to health nine games into the season. There is no question now that the team will move on from the franchise's career passing leader in the offseason, though the Cowboys will take their time in the process.

Advertisement

"He was everything that you could dream about if you were had a make-believe situation on a rookie quarterback," Jones said of Prescott. "He just played at a veteran way. He made those kind of decisions, he kept steady, he never -- as long as he had the opportunity -- he never in any way equivocated as far as his decisions are as far as his actions are as playing winning football."

Latest Headlines