Cowboys' Dak Prescott: Loss to 49ers in playoffs still a 'scar'

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott remained haunted by last year's playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers even while celebrating Monday's wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"[For] me and this team, that’s a scar," Prescott said on Monday night about the home defeat against San Francisco last January, per Angelina Martin of NBC Sports Bay Area. "That one hurts. It will hurt for the rest of my career, and it will be a motivation throughout my career, just to make sure I’m preparing the right way, leaving no doubt in the preparation." 

The 2021 Cowboys finished the regular season at 12-5 and atop the NFC East division standings but proved to be a one-and-done postseason team thanks to the 23-17 loss to the Niners.

Many will remember that game for Prescott shockingly running a quarterback draw with no timeouts in hand and under 15 seconds remaining in regulation. He was unable to spike the ball before time expired, and fans later blasted both the signal-caller and head coach Mike McCarthy for the controversial decision.

This past October, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones made it known he wanted another shot at the 49ers during the playoffs. Jones will get his wish when Dallas and San Francisco play at Levi's Stadium this coming Sunday. 

"So just being able to get [the 49ers] again … this thing’s set up just for us -- playing teams that have beat us, teams that we’re familiar with," Prescott continued on Monday. "So it’s important for us now, as I said, to capitalize on this preparation, take it one day at a time, and make sure we’re ready to go as we work for this one." 

Of course, these 49ers currently have rookie sensation Brock Purdy and not Jimmy Garoppolo guiding them into the Dallas matchup. San Francisco is also riding an 11-game winning streak. 

"They’re on fire," Prescott added about the 49ers. "Win streak, I guess, what, the longest in the league right now? Yeah, it’ll be important for us to start fast, get on top of them. I know the pass rushers they’ve got, but, once again, I’m so confident in the guys that I’ve got, this group we have and what we’re capable of doing."