FRISCO, Texas – By now, Dak Prescott's late-game success shouldn't surprise anyone. Certainly not his coaches and teammates.
"Anytime the game's on the line, he comes through," wide receiver Cole Beasley said after the Cowboys' wild-card win over Seattle.
Last Saturday marked Prescott's 15th career game-winning drive and his first in the postseason. His 14 regular-season comebacks are the most by any NFL quarterback in his first three seasons.
Prescott has shown he'll do what it takes to lead his team back – whether it's hanging in the pocket to make a throw or, like the final drive against Seattle, sacrificing his body for a first-down run.
He's on this week's injury report with a knee injury suffered on that 16-yard scramble on third-and-14, which set up his 1-yard sneak for the deciding touchdown. But he has practiced fully this week and says he's feels "great" – no issues.
Surrounded by reporters Wednesday, three days before the Cowboys' divisional-round road game against the L.A. Rams, Prescott was asked how he rises up in critical moments.
"I think it's a credit to preparation," he said. "Just being prepared and letting my preparation take over in those moments when it means the most.
"I know I can't put too much pressure on, 'Oh, I've got to make this throw.' It's just going out there, seeing the throw and making the throw and letting it rip and not thinking about any of the consequences or anything good or bad. I've just been able to have success there, and I always give credit to preparation and people who put me in those positions."
For quarterbacks, there's always a fine line between competitive and careful when running with the ball. Prescott toes that line every week.
But if the situation calls for it, as it did against Seattle, he won't hesitate to go make a play.
"It's still just picking your spots and knowing when's the right time," he said. "Obviously this past week it was a great play call, just with the quarterback draw and the long third down. It's about picking your spots, and then also when the game's on the line, the game's on the line. It's what it means to you and what are going to do to get it done."
