For the past few weeks, the hype has been building for the divisional clash between the Philadelphia Eagles, who look like a Super Bowl favorite, and the Dallas Cowboys who are looking to make their own noise come playoff time.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is certainly looking forward to the pivotal marquee matchup, and believes that the Cowboys could make one heck of a statement if they are able to knock off the 13-1 Eagles.
“If anything, it’s about making a statement to ourselves,” Prescott said, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. “It’s about, as you look at the season, we’ve had some games where we played really well and some games where we bit ourselves in the foot and had some games where we didn’t and we lost. So yeah, this is about putting our best foot forward, putting our best effort out there and proving it to ourselves in all three phases that we’re a hell of a team and we can go get it done against one of the best teams in the league whether they’re in our division or not.”
The two teams met back in October, with the Eagles pulling out a 26-17 win at home.
“You lose the first one, you can’t wait to see them again, so I mean, I wouldn’t say it’s anything specific to this team,” Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott said. “I think it would be like that with any team in our division. But, I mean, yeah, definitely want to see the team again. It’s just part of being a competitor and loving this game.”
“I think everybody in this locker room is looking forward to this rematch in that sense. When you play a team that’s a division rival, understanding the long history that comes with these two teams, understanding that they’re playing their asses off. They’re having a hell of a season,” Prescott said. “For them to be in our division and that they control the destiny in winning the division right now, yeah, you just want to get in and get another shot and make sure you put your best foot forward in doing so.”
The Cowboys have already punched their ticket to the playoffs, after clinching a playoff berth on Sunday when the New York Giants beat the Washington Commanders, despite losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in the day.
“Made the playoffs before; I want to make a run,” Elliott said. “You can make the playoffs and — we’ve seen it — lose in the first round. That does not taste good, don’t feel good. It’s almost worse than not even going to the playoffs. So I mean just do whatever we can to get back to that team this week is doing what we need to do to get ready to beat Philly and then just building on that and making sure we put our best foot forward when the playoffs come.”
