**Dak Prescott Reflects on Loss and Personal Struggles Ahead of Cowboys’ Bye Week**
Coming into the Week 9 “Monday Night Football” game, things seemed to align well for the Dallas Cowboys and their quarterback, Dak Prescott. After a disappointing Week 8 performance against the Denver Broncos, the Cowboys were in desperate need of a win. They faced a struggling 2-5 Arizona Cardinals team at home, making this an ideal opportunity to regain momentum heading into their upcoming bye week.
For Prescott, there was a deeper emotional significance to the game. November 3 marked exactly 12 years since the passing of his mother, Peggy Prescott, who died from colon cancer. Dak has often spoken about the profound impact of her loss and carries her memory with him constantly. Raised by Peggy with a love for football, Prescott felt an even stronger drive to perform on the national stage in her honor.
Unfortunately, Monday night proved to be a frustrating night. The Cowboys delivered a scattered and disappointing performance, ultimately losing 27-17 to the Cardinals in a game they never really contested.
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### Dak Prescott Opens Up About His Motivation
After the game, Prescott was asked how much he wanted to secure a Cowboys win on such a significant night. He responded candidly:
“I thought this morning about a lot of the Monday night games we watched together and I wanted to get a win. And I didn’t,” Prescott said. “But I know it doesn’t take away how proud she is and it doesn’t take anything away from who I am. Just keep pushing for her.”
Despite his efforts, Prescott struggled throughout the game. For the second consecutive week, his performance fell short of expectations, further dampening his early-season MVP hopes. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 250 yards, threw one interception, and was sacked five times.
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### Perspective Beyond the Game
Playing on November 3 is never easy for Prescott, and with the Cowboys facing challenges both on and off the field, he shared a moment of perspective:
“Heavy hearts today,” he said. “This game’s hard but when you deal with a day like today, you realize life’s hard. Blessed to be able to do what I do. Thankful for it in so many ways. I don’t know if I can even explain how thankful I am for the time I had with her. To have as great as a mother as I did, a selfless mother — everything you see me do and everything I am is because of her.
“This loss is nothing compared to life. That’s why I don’t have any concerns about what I’ll be able to do, what this team is able to do, and the way that we can respond. But it’s a tough day. It was a tough day, it was a day that you damn sure want to win.”
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### Cowboys and Prescott Searching for Solutions
The defeat drops Dallas to a 3-5-1 record heading into their bye week, just days before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. Fortunately for the Cowboys, the NFC has been marked by parity this season, keeping Dallas within striking distance of a playoff spot. However, improvements are desperately needed.
Following Monday’s game, the Cowboys were seeking answers. Prescott admitted that the solution has yet to be found.
“If I had the answer, we wouldn’t be struggling, not to leave it at that, but that’s what the bye week is for,” he said. “We’ve got to figure it out.”
As Dallas prepares to regroup during their bye, all eyes will be on Prescott and the team to see how they respond to adversity both on the field and in their personal battles.
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