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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acknowledged being inclined to stick with the hot hand in Dak Prescott, who has guided the NFC East-leading Cowboys (6-1) to the best record in the NFC, including six straight wins, heading into Sunday's matchup with the Cleveland Browns (0-8), no matter when incumbent starter Tony Romo returns to health. Prescott is not letting the vote of confidence go to his head.
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"Yeah, that's the first I've actually heard of that," Prescott said. "I just worry about the chemistry this team has and what it's doing right now. Today was to go out there and put our best effort out there on a Wednesday practice. That's my mindset: Take it one day at a time. I'm thankful to have this opportunity each and every day."
"It really doesn't change the way I think or I go about my day," Prescott said. "I mean, it's the same regardless of whether he says anything, if the coach does or if one of you guys. It really doesn't take part in the way I go about my day."
Prescott's focus is technical and specific, considering the accuracy issues he had for much of last Sunday's 29-23 overtime victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Prescott was high and off target for the better part of four quarters, completing 14 of 34 passes for 231 yards with one touchdown and one interception during regulation of what he called the sloppiest game he's played all season.
He righted himself in time for the comeback win, throwing a game-tying touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and was 5-for-5 for 56 yards with a game-winning touchdown pass in the overtime.
"Yeah, 100 percent I'd say footwork," Prescott said. "Maybe a little bit of the rush getting to me a couple of times early and then me allowing it to affect my footwork. But yeah, definitely my footwork. I wasn't driving off my back foot like I need to. I definitely was sloppy down in there in the red zone and couple of times throwing the ball.
"I've got a great help in Mark Sanchez who's always in my ear," Prescott continued. "In my ear nonstop at practice today, 'footwork, footwork, get your feet in the ground.' It's something I'm aware of so definitely a big part of this week."
Coach Jason Garrett was already impressed with how Prescott stayed poised and composed to rally the Cowboys to the overtime victory, overcoming his sloppy play and struggles. He expects no difference this week.
"The most impressive thing about Dak in every experience I've had with him is just his poise and composure," Garrett said. "He doesn't seem to be effected by success or adversity very much. It's a really good trait in life, it's a really good trait for football players, particularly for quarterbacks, and I thought he demonstrated that the other night. Whatever the situation is, if things are going really well, he's focused on what he needs to do in this particular situation. Similarly, in handling the adversities, I think he's done the same thing. That's what I've seen from him, that's how he is every day when he comes in here."
Garrett often says the mark of a great quarterback is not how they play when things are going well but how they respond to adversity. Prescott passed the test against the Eagles and now the focus is his ability address his issues in practice this week to prevent them from happening again Sunday against the Browns.
