Dak Prescott 'Gift': Cowboys QB Fumble Gives Philadelphia Eagles Easy TD; Dallas Up 24-13

Dak Prescott 'Gift': Cowboys QB Fumble Gives Philadelphia Eagles Easy TD; Dallas Up 24-13

ARLINGTON - The Dallas Cowboys came into this game at 9-3 on the season and can feel content with their work thus far ... and as we enter December, it's time for gift-giving.

But not the sort of "gift'' that Dak Prescott - who's been largely brilliant in this game in leading Dallas to a fat lead over Philly - intended.

The Cowboys are still up 24-13 with nine minutes left in the third quarter, and have manhandled the Eagles. But a rare error just let Philly breathe a bit, as Dak got sloppy with the ball while being sacked, leading to a defensive TD return by Eagles rookie lineman Jalen Carter.

#Dak gets a bit sloppy. #Eagles get a free TD. Rookie Jalen Carter rumbles for score. #Cowboys up 24-13 pic.twitter.com/Rpc35oubBp

— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) December 11, 2023

But no, the idea of a "gift'' was something much different than this ... And Prescott had an idea as it relates to coach Mike McCarthy, who is at work after missing two days of work following his emergency appendectomy.

"We're just glad he's healthy,'' said Prescott late in the week, adding that the head coach is "probably pissed off'' at having missed work. "It'll be a good gift to him. When we get this (win), like, 'You got that taken care of, and here's your big dub.'"

DallasCowboys.com / DallasCowboys.com

The Cowboys face the Philadelphia Eagles on "Sunday Night Football" and follow that up with road games against the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins before hosting the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium.

And yes, it is the season of giving .. or "taking,'' depending on how we look at it. It is also time, in the vernacular, for "real football.''

"This is when the real football begins," Prescott said. "That's why, a couple weeks ago, I said I haven't (accomplished) anything. This team hasn't done anything, in a sense. We're getting better and that's the main and important goal, but what's in front of us is everything that we want and want to accomplish. 

"It starts with this stretch in December leading into January, to take that momentum into the playoffs and go for what the real goal is. It's just continuously about building and making sure these guys [are] focused, and the details and discipline matter more than ever."

There's been a narrative surrounding Dak and the Cowboys over their explosive stretch that has seen Prescott vault into MVP consideration and Dallas lay waste to teams that they only beat up on the bad teams and don't beat the good ones (despite Seattle at 6-5 last week).

There's a chance to quiet that noise on Sunday. ... and the Cowboys are mostly doing that.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is ready for December football / © Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Now, with this tough "gauntlet'' ahead and each team presenting its own unique challenges to Dallas?

"These are the moments we've prepared for," Prescott said. "This is the stretch of the season that, when you look at the schedule, you have to be excited about."

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With one of the toughest remaining schedules, we will learn a lot about Dak and the Cowboys over the next month. 

December in the NFL - where the pretenders and contenders are separated and for Prescott, he's ready for the "real" football to begin. ... and for "the season of giving'' to kick in as well - but not "giving'' to the Eagles, is all.