'Sh** Yeah!' Dak's Revenge: QB Prescott On Playoffs, Packers, Lessons & Dallas Cowboys Fans at Home

'Sh** Yeah!' Dak's Revenge: QB Prescott On Playoffs, Packers, Lessons & Dallas Cowboys Fans at Home

FRISCO - Can being at home in front of "America's Team's'' fans at AT&T Stadium in the 2023 NFL Playoffs be an advantage for the Dallas Cowboys?

"Sh** yeah!'' Dak Prescott said.

As it is the Green Bay Packers coming to town, can this be "Dak's Revenge''?

Heck, yeah, maybe, we say.

The 2016 season was a magical one for the Dallas Cowboys, until it turned into heartbreak at the very end.

Few had high expectations for Dallas after veteran quarterback Tony Romo went down in the preseason, but Dak Prescott, then just a fourth-round rookie out of Mississippi State, took the opportunity and ran with it. Alongside another rookie in running back Ezekiel Elliott, Prescott led the Cowboys to an outstanding 13-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

After the bye week, the Cowboys drew Mike McCarthy's Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round. Dallas was able claw back from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Green Bay had some magic of its own. Aaron Rodgers hit Jared Cook for a 35-yard gain, allowing Mason Crosby to kick the game-winning field goal as time expired.

Dak Prescott vs. Packers / Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Thus, arguably the most-promising Cowboys season in recent memory ended in yet another disappointing playoff exit.

Almost seven years later to the day, the two bitter rivals will renew their vows in the playoffs once more. Not many players from that game still remain with their teams, but as one of the few left, Prescott has a new perspective on that dramatic ending, thanks largely due to McCarthy coaching his Cowboys for the last four seasons.

“Seven years later, having Mike as my coach, understanding now that, ‘Oh, that was a play that they practiced time and time again,’” Prescott said. “Because we’ve practiced those situations, those things, time and time again.

“It just shows the importance of the practice, of the details, of the communication, being on the same page, what to expect in those crucial moments."

McCarthy, who will face his former team for just the second time since coming to Dallas, offered his own perspective of the game, as well as revealing how he uses it as a teaching experience for Prescott.

“Dak and I have spoken about the particulars of the game time and time again, and even moreso when you go through different situations,” McCarthy said. “There were situations in that game that came up, and now that we’re in the same offense, he can see the similarities and why we do what we do, and really the history about it.

“We’ve talked about that game a number of times."

'I'm a Dallas Cowboy!' McCarthy Admits to 'Regret' with Packers

They also talk a lot, period, as two of the central figures in Dallas' push forward.

“Sometimes it’s me looking forward to fatherhood,'' Dak said of the conversational subject matter. "He’s been a great friend.''

(Sidebar: Those who continue to plant rumors about Bill Belichick or anybody else taking over for a fired McCarthy might want to familiarize themselves with how Dak and the locker room might feel about that.)

Green Bay may have gotten the better of Dallas seven years ago, but now, Prescott, McCarthy and the Cowboys are eager to flip the script.

“There is a lot of time that goes into that," McCarthy said. “Now Dak sees a lot of it is carry over from Green Bay, particularly in those late-game situations.''

And on Sunday? Seven years later, we all get to see what it is he sees.