'That's a selfish act' - Dak Prescott has warning for Cowboys defense but it's not the one NFL world would expect

The Dallas Cowboys claim to be unfulfilled by Week 4's tie to the Green Bay Packers, and it's easy to see why. The offense had a monster day on the ground and through the air, producing a total of 436 yards while putting up 40 points. Sure, two were courtesy of special teams, but you get the point.

That kind of production should translate into a win. However, because of serious defensive struggles evident since Week 1 — from bad coverage to inconsistent pass rush and mediocre tackling — it went down as a tie. The Cowboys played a near-perfect game on offense, and it just wasn't enough.

But quarterback Dak Prescott, who played lights out, refused to call out the Cowboys' defense. Instead, he sent a warning to his teammates on the other side of the ball. But it isn't the kind of warning the NFL world would expect after such a tough game for the unit.

Dak Prescott warns Cowboys' defense to avoid 'selfish act'

Prescott's message to the defense postgame focused on one simple thing: Matt Eberflus' unit can't get down on itself because it would only hurt Dallas more.

"We need them," Prescott told reporters postgame about the defense. "And if they do get down on themselves, that’s a selfish act. It’s about making sure they stay positive and understand they’re in control. Whether it’s one guy, two guys, or the communication of all 11, they control what they go out there and do."

Prescott's message isn't a surprise. It's part of his leadership approach, always insisting on controlling what you can control. The Cowboys' quarterback also noted that the offense failed to score a touchdown in overtime, which would've forced Green Bay to do the same, making a tie even more complicated and a win much more likely.

"I can be mad about the one second on the clock," Prescott said. "I can be mad that they drove the ball, but at the end of the day, I’m pissed we didn’t score in the red zone."

Prescott says the Cowboys can be a 'monster team'

Make no mistake about it, the Cowboys are one of the top offenses in the NFL. That alone should make it clear they're in a position to win games. And in Prescott's eyes, the team is allowing fewer explosive plays on defense from being a contender.

"We can be a monster team," Prescott said Sunday night. "We get some stops, and with the way this offense is playing, the defense just needs to slow down the big plays. They’re playing good defense; it’s just those few big plays that put them behind, backs against the wall, in the red zone. I’ve got faith in (Eberflus) and the rest of those guys stopping big plays. Not only that—the way they rally to the ball, the way they hustle and play—turnovers are going to come. We got one at the end of the half, almost had another with (Trevon Diggs) on that interception. If they keep playing with that effort, rallying to the ball, the turnovers will come. As we always say, turnovers come in bunches."

The Cowboys need them badly. The defense has given up the most yards through four weeks and the second-most points, only behind the Baltimore Ravens, who are 1-3 despite having Lamar Jackson at quarterback.

It will be hard for this defense to turn it all around midseason. But if turnovers start going its way in these games, wins will follow.

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