Just three weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys rolled out to face the Las Vegas Raiders at 3-5-1, knowing that the wins had to be stacked.
Having been one of the most inconsistent teams in football, the franchise knew something had to change.
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And whether it was the changes at the bye week, personnel-wise or scheme-wise, or the powerful motivation that the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland gave them, Dallas has rattled off three straight wins over the Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
For Dak Prescott, when asked if coming out of the bye week, did the team know he had to go on a run to make the postseason?
“Most definitely, simply because of what our record was at, not only that, just where the league is, and the NFC is with the wins and those guys putting themselves ahead of us,” Prescott said. “It was ultimate urgency, we’ve just got to take it one game at a time. We can’t get overwhelmed. Trust the process, focus on getting better each day, and we’ll be able to put together wins like we have these past three games.
“All these wins do is just give us more confidence, and just reminds guys to stick to the process.”
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Well, one thing is for sure, the Cowboys have confidence now.
Ahead of the 7-5 Detroit Lions at Motown on Thursday in Week 14, there is no denying that Dallas, in this sort of form on both sides of the ball, can go into Ford Field and win its fourth game of the year.
The three-game gauntlet has been spoken of a lot over the past few weeks, and now, at 2-0 with the chance to sweep that stretch, the Cowboys have got life.
At 6-5-1, playoffs are still likely tough to achieve, but with the Eagles stuttering? And if Dallas can win in Detroit?
The schedule opens up. … and so do the possibilities.
But there’s no resting on their laurels, as Dak said, the sense of urgency remains the same.