'Flu Game!' Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons Draws Dak Prescott Praise for Philadelphia Eagles Effort

'Flu Game!' Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons Draws Dak Prescott Praise for Philadelphia Eagles Effort

When Michael Jordan turned in his "flu game" in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Dallas Cowboys star defender Micah Parsons wasn't yet born.

But the legacy surrounding Jordan's 38-point performance while being under the weather has spread amongst generations, and the 24-year-old Parsons did his best to replicate it Sunday in the Cowboys' 33-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Parsons, battling a 103-degree fever, recorded the Cowboys' lone sack on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and returned to the locker room with "sick, my (butt)" remarks from Dallas owner Jerry Jones.

Despite his illness, Parsons was met with lofty expectations from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who said it's exactly what the NFL's eighth-leading sack artist wants.

So, when Prescott learned Parsons was feeling under the weather, he didn't approach him with the same sympathy one may expect.

“I checked on him, but it wasn't much of a 'how are you doing?' It was more of 'go have a flu game type performance' if you're out here and you can play,” Prescott said. “I know that's what you're thinking. I'm thinking the same thing. I know you're going to be tired, that’s part of it.

“That's when you get to show how great you are.”

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and Micah Parsons (11) / ClutchPoints

Parsons did exactly that, helping Dallas' defense hold Philadelphia to a season-low 13 points in a victory that gave the Cowboys the lead in the NFC East - and the No. 1 seed in the playoff standings.

With his sack, Parsons became the second player in NFL history to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first three seasons. He played 76 percent of Dallas' defensive snaps, fighting through his illness to continue his usual dominance.

And while their sidelines interactions weren't overly frequent, Prescott made sure to keep Parsons engaged and upbeat while grinding through a crucial Cowboys victory.

“He walked by me - I got a chance to say, 'Hey Micah.' I'd say something, shake his hand, and dap him up often and keep it rolling,” Prescott said. “The little relationship or transactions that we have during the game right there, it's just to keep him into it. Make sure that I'm trying to feed that hungry mindset that he has.

“The guy's a hell of a player. He's a game-changer.”

Loaded up on IVs, Parsons did everything in his power to play Sunday, proving how much the Cowboys-Eagles rivalry and a chance at the division lead means to him.

And not only did Parsons play, but he played at a high level, logging at least one sack for the third time in his last four games. He's notched a sack in nine of Dallas' 13 contests.

Or, in other terms, Parsons delivered his "flu game" moment, persevering through illness and a tough opponent to make his presence felt - and lift the Cowboys to a season-defining victory.

“A lot of times you get into games, and they have a game plan throwing three people at you and it can be frustrating,” Prescott said. “It's about being resilient, understanding you're tired and understanding you don't feel your best. But you're still able to play and I expect you to go make plays as you do yourself.

“And he did it once again.”

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Parsons and the Cowboys will return to action Sunday, when they take on the Buffalo Bills. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CST inside Highmark Stadium.