FRISCO, Texas – Dak Prescott doesn't see a Cowboys team that's reeling from three straight losses.
The starting quarterback believes they're on the verge of a breakthrough.
The key?
"Get out of our own way," he said Thursday.
Offensively, the Cowboys averaged 406 total yards in losses to the Jets, Packers and Saints. But they've averaged only 18.7 points, well below their 32.3 average during the 3-0 start.
At the time, the team was lauded as a Super Bowl favorite. At 3-3, the outside narrative has changed.
But Prescott still believes he's part of a great team that has a chance to prove it Sunday night at home against division rival Philadelphia (3-3), with first place in the NFC East on the line.
"We're right there," Prescott said. "We're not being a great team right now and making those plays and getting out of our own way. We're a good team that hasn't been getting it done.
"Get out of our own way, and we're going to make that step. And I know we have all the people, coaches and players to do it."
The Cowboys' offense has been bitten by injuries to starting offensive tackles Tyron Smith and La'el Collins and top receiving options Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb. All still appear to have a least some hope of returning Sunday against the Eagles.
What's more frustrating is Prescott and company believe they've left plays, and points, on the board. They've converted only 4 of their last 9 trips to the red zone. Penalties, turnovers, dropped passes all have been culprits.
"All fixable things," Prescott said.
In trying times – the team has trailed by 17 and 13 points at halftime in the last two games – Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett has emphasized the importance of not pressing to make big plays. Simply focusing on each individual assignment will lead to positive team results.
"I think that's one of the things Coach has said, get back to don't make it too big and don't feel like you have to carry the weight of the entire team when you go do something," tight end Jason Witten said. "Focus on what you can do. Dak has a saying, the 1/11th, be that part of it.
"Nobody's really going to flinch from that standpoint. That's kind of the culture Jason's created. But you've got to go do it. It's been concise, it's been short, it's been to the point this week. It's a tough opponent. It's not going to be easy. But that's the way it should be."
At 3-3, the Cowboys no longer are atop the NFC standings. But the division is still well within reach at the moment.
As Prescott said, a three-game slide is never welcomed. But if there's ever a time to be facing adversity, better now than late in the season.
"If you're down or if you have a hangover from what happened last week, we're only going to put ourselves in a hole for this game that we have Sunday," he said. "We're excited for this chance we get to play in a game that means this much early and against a team like this."
