Dak Prescott looks to play in Week 18, finish Cowboys' season with 'pride,' .500 record

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2025-12-27

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Fresh off a win on Christmas, the Cowboys enter Week 18 with extra time to rest, recover and prepare for their season finale.

Playoffs are no longer possible for Dallas, a 7-8-1 team that will be expected to defeat the lowly New York Giants (2-13) if Dak Prescott plays. With nothing but pride to play for, however, it’s fair to wonder if the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback will play.

“For sure, no question,” Prescott said when asked if he wanted to play in Week 18, via the team’s official site. “I love this game, I love any opportunity that I get to play it. That being said, if I get to go out there, I’m going to give it my best, prepare the same way, I’m going to be the same player that you guys know. I understand, the reasons why maybe not, and if I’m approached with that, I’ll handle that then.”

“In my mind, any conversations I’ve had to Schotty (coach Brian Schottenheimer) or anybody about it would be I’m playing.”

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On paper, Prescott’s participation wouldn’t be a question. But Prescott is also coming off a game in which he was sacked six times, and the Cowboys QB has been sacked 14 times over the last month.

With one game to play before an offseason that is guaranteed to start on Jan. 5, the risk might not be worth another four quarters of participation. Prescott, however, sees plenty of value in finishing 8-8-1 — the rare .500 record in a league that now plays an odd total of games — and also believes finishing a season on the field with a non-losing record is important.

“Big difference,” Prescott said. “A lot of pride, I think that’s another reason I want to play. In a season of me being healthy, I’ve never had, in all of my life, career, a season under .500. So that tie’s going to come into play really well. It’s a huge difference.”

Schottenheimer will have more than a week to make a final decision on whether his quarterback, the NFL’s current leader in passing yards (4,482) and the engine that powers his offense, will participate in Week 18. He deflected after Thursday’s win, instead saying he was going to “enjoy Christmas” and “have some eggnog” before mulling his approach.

Prescott’s participation might be the only gift the quarterback would still like to find under his tree.