Santa Clara, Calif — As the season kicked off, the Dallas Cowboys could hardly have imagined they’d find themselves in this position just seven games in. Sunday’s 30-24 defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers left the Cowboys at 3-4, hovering closer to the NFC’s bottom ranks than to Super Bowl contention.
“We’re disappointed,” said head coach Mike McCarthy. “The guys put in a strong week of prep, and we saw improvements in some areas. But there’s still plenty of work ahead.”
The last time Dallas was 3-4 with a healthy Dak Prescott was back in 2018. In 2020, the Cowboys started 2-5 before Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury in Week 5 led to a 2-7 record. That 2018 squad, however, turned things around with a midseason trade for Amari Cooper, finishing 10-6, capturing the NFC East, and even winning a playoff game. Only five players from that season are still active with the team: Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin, Jourdan Lewis, and C.J. Goodwin. Next week, the Cowboys will face the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons.
Cowboys at 3-4: Prescott, McCarthy Seek Answers Amid Mounting Frustrations
“We know how this league works,” said Prescott. ‘You get hot – and that means rolling – that is all there is to it.’ This loss is rather annoying though nobody is throwing in the towel. That is why we are concentrated on the upcoming road game, as the opponent will be the strong team.
Our goal is to get to breakeven then build up.” The Cowboys have a tough schedule for the next month with the next four teams being the Falcons, Eagles, Texans, and Commanders all of which are coming off Sunday’s victory making a total of 22-9.
“We’re going week by week,” said Lewis. “We can’t look too far ahead. Some are bur we are targeting the next game, the next chance.” It can be agreed that frustration levels have not remained at the same level where they belong, but have escalated at one point or the other.
Dallas has now lost its fourth consecutive game to the 49ers, with two of those losses coming in the playoffs and three out of the last three games at Levi’s Stadium.
In a telling moment, cornerback Trevon Diggs confronted a television reporter about a game-time tweet he felt questioned his effort.
“It’s rough,” said receiver CeeDee Lamb. “To come here three times in three years and lose like this—it’s sickening.”
The Cowboys nearly pulled off an improbable comeback despite trailing 27-10 after a third-quarter surge by the 49ers, who outscored them 21-0 and outgained them by 151 yards in that period alone. Prescott, however, missed four consecutive passes with just over three minutes left, sealing the loss.
Prescott’s performance was mixed. Though he connected with Lamb for two late touchdowns, he also became the first Cowboys quarterback since Troy Aikman in 1992 to throw multiple interceptions in three straight games. Prescott finished the night 25-for-38 with 243 yards and two sacks.
“For personally, I get annoyed — annoyed with my performance, and I think the other fellows are equally annoyed,” Prescott voiced. Get two in a row, sitting at 3-4, yeah, it’s hard. But no one has departed or has been left defeated and willing to surrender. Irritation is high, however the MIL hockey Pattern is long and contains several division games remaining.
He added, “Frustrated is probably the best way to put it.