{"id":40787,"date":"2025-12-29T12:11:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T12:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=40787"},"modified":"2025-12-29T12:11:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T12:11:15","slug":"expectations-for-cowboys-season-finale-dak-prescotts-usage-tops-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=40787","title":{"rendered":"Expectations for Cowboys\u2019 season finale? Dak Prescott\u2019s usage tops the list"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

As the Dallas Cowboys enter the final week of the season, their goal remains the same. The plan is to prepare for the New York Giants like they did for the Washington Commanders. Despite their playoff hopes having ended, the Cowboys are determined to finish the season with a win, an overall 8-8-1 record and 5-1 against the NFC East.<\/p>\n

\u201cA win is glorious,\u201d Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. \u201cA win is special. I\u2019ve noticed debate about whether to play certain players in the game (Thursday at Washington) or this game (at the Giants). But it\u2019s so important to understand when you\u2019re involved what it means to put a win there that will always be with you.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to win. It\u2019s important. And they\u2019re singularly worth noting.\u201d<\/p>\n

While plans could change as the week goes along, it appears that healthy starters will be on the field at MetLife Stadium, including franchise quarterback Dak Prescott.<\/p>\n

Jones was asked Friday about playing Prescott in the season finale and how they weigh finishing with potentially another win versus risking injury. Prescott was sacked six times against the Commanders and took several other hits after throwing the ball or as a runner.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou weigh that against how valuable it was to win the game (at Washington),\u201d Jones said. \u201cI don\u2019t mean to sound like a motivational talk here, but the win was big to us (last week). To go up against the Giants and to finish with hopefully the kind of taste we got in our mouth (after beating Washington), to go do that, there\u2019s a tremendous carryover. And I\u2019m not just talking about the players. I\u2019m talking about everybody, coaches, fans, all the way through.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to watch in Dallas\u2019 final game of the season (Sunday at 1 p.m. ET).<\/p>\n

1. Quarterback situation<\/h2>\n

How much will Prescott play, if at all? He says he wants to play. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer sounds like he wants the same. Perhaps Prescott starts but only plays a few series or the first half. The Giants are arguably the league\u2019s worst team. They played a close game with the Cowboys in Week 2 (a 40-37 Dallas win in overtime), but a lot has changed since then. If the Cowboys get off to a similar start to what they did Thursday, scoring touchdowns on each of their first three possessions, Prescott might not be needed for long. Either way, it would make sense to get backup QB Joe Milton some work. He has played in three games this season but only attempted 11 passes.<\/p>\n

2. Trevon Diggs\u2019 last game in Dallas?<\/h2>\n

Signs point to this being the case. Jones has recently said that a decision to move on from Diggs has not been made. He has three more years remaining on his deal, but the Cowboys could move on as all of his guaranteed money has been paid. Diggs has said on multiple occasions over the last few weeks that he wants to remain in Dallas. It hasn\u2019t been a good year for the veteran corner who made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022. Injuries and the scheme implemented under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus have led to Diggs posting the worst Pro Football Focus grade of his career. He ranks 78th among 112 cornerbacks graded by PFF.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"Expectations<\/p>\n

\n

Trevon Diggs, who made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022, has been limited to 21 total games over the last three seasons due to injury. (Kevin Jairaj \/ Imagn Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

3. Linebacker reps?<\/h2>\n

It was a bit of a head-scratcher for Logan Wilson not to get a snap at Washington. Dallas added him at the trade deadline in hopes of improving its middle linebacker position. It has not been a good year for starting middle linebacker Kenneth Murray, who ranks 82nd out of 86 linebackers graded by PFF. Judging by Jones\u2019 response Friday when asked about Wilson not playing, look for him to see the field at New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have an explanation for you for why Wilson wasn\u2019t in there,\u201d Jones said. \u201cWe planned to have him in there. He needs to be in there. He has good instincts. The reason we got him was because he reads the play quick and can basically be in his lane of responsibility and react quick. It\u2019s critical that a linebacker have quick reacting (ability). He\u2019s able to do that. That\u2019s why we got him.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Who carries the ball?<\/h2>\n

Javonte Williams is dealing with a shoulder issue that forced him to leave the Thursday game early. Dallas\u2019 lead back is having a career year. His 1,201 rushing yards are nearly 300 more than he\u2019s had in any other season of his five-year career. He\u2019s about to be a free agent. He\u2019d probably like to add to that total, if possible. But why not play rookie Jaydon Blue? He was expected to have a role this season, but that hasn\u2019t happened for several reasons. It\u2019ll be interesting to see what Schottenheimer decides at the position.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he earns the right to do it, absolutely,\u201d Schottenheimer said a couple of weeks ago when asked about Blue potentially playing in the final three games. \u201cHe\u2019s no different than the other guys. I see flashes from Jaydon all the time. I see that the talent is real. The standard is not always met, just being quite honest and frank with you guys. I\u2019m not saying anything I haven\u2019t said to Jaydon. But if he keeps working and continues to do a great job in his preparation and all that, then of course he can earn the right to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. No. 1 tight end<\/h2>\n

Dallas\u2019 No. 1 TE Jake Ferguson exited Thursday\u2019s game with a calf injury. If it prevents him from playing at New York, Brevyn Spann-Ford appears ready to take on a larger responsibility. The 2024 undrafted free agent continues to improve as a pass catcher. He\u2019s already regarded as an excellent blocker and special teams contributor. He had a 31-yard reception against the Commanders on Thursday. It would be good to see him get more targets in the season finale. He has caught seven of his 10 targets this season for 60 yards and a touchdown. He caught nine of 14 targets for 88 yards as a rookie.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cowboys could use this game to get closer looks at rookie RB Jaydon Blue, TE Brevyn Spann-Ford and backup QB Joe Milton.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":40788,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[24],"class_list":["post-40787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dallas-cowboys","tag-dallas-cowboys"],"yoast_head":"\nExpectations for Cowboys\u2019 season finale? Dak Prescott\u2019s usage tops the list - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=40787\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Expectations for Cowboys\u2019 season finale? 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