Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and defensive back Trevon Diggs met with the media after Thursday’s 20-15 win over the New York Giants. Here’s what they said. Quotes courtesy of the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys media relations staffs.
QB Dak Prescott
Q: You guys got off to a fast start. You’re 11 of 12, got CeeDee (Lamb) involved. How important was that?
A: Oh, it was huge. As you said, getting CeeDee (Lamb) going. Big time playmaker. Get him some catches on the second drive there. Led to a touchdown. Able to overcome some penalties even on that drive. Get there in the third drive, they leave him one on one, (we were) able to attack that. After (fullback) Hunter Luepke on a big fourth down conversion. It was huge, but we’ve got to build off of those drives and continue to go. Didn’t finish the way that we wanted to, not to our standard. Left in the hands of the defense, which is – credit to those guys for finishing, getting it done. Not allowing any touchdowns. We’re an offense that can finish better and score more touchdowns than we did tonight. We’ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror and go get that done.
Q: How vital was getting a win tonight?
A: It was huge. After obviously losing two, especially at home. Coming on the road, first division game. Division wins are always tough. As I said, then you add on the road. Before a long weekend puts a better taste in our mouth, but at the end of the day, as I’ve said, even after those two losses the past two weeks, it’s a process. We’re not going to get complacent. We’re not going to get overexcited about what we’ve done tonight. It’s about building and it’s about figuring out what we can do better in all phases, but it’s a lot easier to do that with a win.
Q: I think it’s your fifth game where you’ve had an 80% completion percent or better in your career. Is that kind of what you’re talking about? How you feel like you’re seeing it?
A: Yeah, I mean I was shooting for 80% tonight. As well as I’ve been seeing it, obviously the first three games the percentage hasn’t showed that. So, understanding that tonight we’re going to have the opportunity for some underneath throws, attacking the (inaudible), as we say, outside one-on-ones, getting CeeDee (Lamb) the ball. We knew we had an opportunity to just get off to a good start, get the run and the completions. (Head Coach) Mike (McCarthy) always talks about that, the rushes and the completions. So, I think that’s probably a solid number. Hadn’t looked at the stats, but seeing it well.
Q: We talked the last couple days about professionalism, hero ball and all that. How much was that just us or was that you guys really internally trying to get your act together?
A: One more time.
Q: How important was it to get your act together after all the discussions you guys had about professionalism and hero ball and those kinds of things?
A: We’ve got to continue to be pros. That’s not done. That’s not done when you get a win and that’s my point about (how) we’re not going to get overexcited or hopefully the guys don’t listen to anything that’s being written about, good or bad. It’s about focusing on this process. We were able to get a win tonight, puts us at 2-2, going into a long weekend, but we’ve got to go on the road next week against a good Steelers team who may be undefeated, right? Who may be undefeated when we play them, right? It’s going to be in a tough environment. I haven’t played there since my rookie year, so I’m looking forward to that. That’s really all that matters is taking care of our bodies, being smart, healthy this weekend, getting back at it Monday and being pros, continue to work, trust the process, trust one another, be accountable and go and put the best version of ourselves out there next Sunday.
Q: How important was it to see the running game progress this week after what you’ve seen the last two weeks?
A: Yeah, it’s huge. Obviously, a couple young linemen up front. Being able to get them going, get their confidence going, get the backs going, that opens up the play action, that opens up the nakeds and allows us to just spread the ball outside. You’ve got to have a run game to win in this league, so as long as we continue to build on that, we’ll be fine.
Q: Obviously, CeeDee doesn’t get very many one-on-ones, and the one that he does, you guys get a touchdown. What’s going through your mind when you see it, because you’re like, ‘He doesn’t get many of these.’ What’s your thought process when you see that?
A: Look off the safety, do my part. Right there, he beat the guy pretty clean at the line, so I didn’t want to put too much air on it. I understand the safety was going to go that way. Just get him the ball. Got to take advantage of those one-on-one opportunities, and we did that. Able to get him the ball, he went and broke the tackle, and it felt good to get him off to a fast start.
Q: But with you, you’re not just thinking yourself, like, ‘I can’t miss on this, I’m not going to get another one of these.’?
A: No, just playing the play. Not a lot of can’ts, don’ts, won’ts go through my head, really at any point. In my head, honestly, I’m like, ‘Are you really about to press him and leave him one-on-one? No safety is getting over the top.’ So, once the ball was snapped and he didn’t, it was just about making the throw.
Q: After that opening three-and-out, I think you rattled off 12 straight completions, 100-and-something yards. What worked so well there in the first and second quarter?
A: Yeah, just taking some of those completions underneath. I think I mentioned it. I really probably should have thrown CeeDee a smoke on the second play of the game. After that, he comes out and I look at the film. Didn’t know if they were trying to roll to him or figure out a plan what they were going to do with him. Then after that, I said, ‘I’m going to just play fast, trust my feet, trust my eyes.’ Guys went and got open, and that’s what happened.
Q: Why did you feel like 80% specifically was attainable tonight? Was it the play to the…
A: I shoot for 80% every week, to be honest with you. I think coach usually says 70%. I shoot for 80%. Trust me, the last three weeks I’ve been disappointed. Now I’ve got to go for 90%, I guess.
Q: Not just this week, but this season, Hunter Luepke, what has he done to earn your trust in the passing game and the role in the offense in general?
A: Love that guy. Little Mike Alstott, that’s what I call him. Wearing the number 40 as well. One of my favorite backs back in the day, too. Awesome just to see a guy come in as a fullback, show that he can play tight end, fullback, running back, can pass, protect. Made a huge third down. Huge third down catch last weekend, obviously, and this week. Just a guy that not only gained more and more of my trust, but with the coaches as well. Understanding that he’s just a football player. You can put him there in any situation and he’s going to get the job done. Went and got a fourth and one. Bounced it, a guy almost tripped him up and kept his feet and went and got an extra five yards or so. The guy can do it all. When you’ve got somebody like that, that’s huge for this offense. We’ve got to figure out ways to continue to get him on the field and allow him to make plays when he can.
Q: What kind of hit you in terms of the chemistry with him in training camp? How many reps do you guys get that he could be a reliable pass catcher?
A: Pretty early, honestly. He’s a football guy. Loves the game. Simple man, I’d say. Just understanding, watching him in training camp, whether he was in there with us or a coup. Made a great catcher member in the Rams, scrimmage on an option route. The coaches have just given him more and more and he’s taking advantage of every opportunity. Me seeing that, obviously I trust the guy. He goes out there and just continues to deliver.
Q: Coming out of the last two losses, a lot of you guys, yourself included, talked about playing complementary football. Look at the first half. It was a lot of bend but not break from the defense. You guys rewarded them with a couple of touchdowns. Even at the end of the game where you have (Kicker) Brandon Aubrey miss a rare field goal, defense goes out and gets an interception. Can you talk about the importance of keeping that going as the week goes on?
A: Yeah, it’s huge. Complementary football is not only just rewarding the guys but it’s being able to pick it up when the guys aren’t doing well. Look at those last couple of weeks. That’s what I’m disappointing myself in the offense is not really picking those guys up and understanding that they had some tough games but we’ve got to be able to be there to score touchdowns, keep the game tight. Tell them one or two stops in this game is different. Getting in the game tonight is about rewarding the guys and doing whatever it takes. They get a big stop right there on fourth down. We’ve got to go score. Take it out of Aubrey’s hands. He’s made tons of field goals from a long way away and continues to deliver. Obviously, that was a fluke when you look at what he’s done. We can’t ask him to save us on every play, every possession. We’ve got to go get touchdowns. We can go make that nine-point game right there and just finish it off and not even allow the defense to be having to play Hail Mary situational ball.
Q: Can you talk about what (Linebacker) Micah (Parsons) kind of means and what you were thinking as he was going off the field today?
A: He’s a hell of a player, big-time playmaker. I’m not watching a lot but made a huge run stop right there on one of those last possessions. Honestly, I’m just hoping it’s not anything serious. As I said, there’s not a lot of doubts or negative thoughts that go through my head. I didn’t even want to think anything major. I’m hoping that my thoughts are right and it’s something small. He looked in good spirits, so I’m in good spirits. We’re in good spirits.
Q: Nine years in now, what are the big things you’ve learned about momentum in this league when you think specifically about this team? Rookies on your offensive line, the defense, especially with a new defensive coordinator. How big was this win in terms of momentum for this team?
Q: Huge, especially when you compare it to the alternative. What that would have been like. It was huge. As you said, a young team, young linemen. Just understanding the impact that you guys, what your jobs do have on young players. Got to turn the narrative. Got to change the narrative. That’s what this game did, especially over a long weekend. Puts us at 2-2. Allows us a couple days to get our body right, mind right. If guys want to read about themselves in this team, it’s all positive hopefully. I ask you guys to make it positive. Keep their confidence right and just allowed to build momentum. Played on a bunch of different teams, as you said, and some that when you got going, it just gets hot. That’s what we’re looking to do. That’s what it’s about in this league is getting hot at the right time, building, and that’s why I just said it’s about the process. Trusting the process no matter the results.
Q: Can you speak to your personal 13 wins against the Giants? What is it about this team that you like playing against and that you’re able to win so much?
A: As I told the Thursday night crew, lost my first two games to them. Could have been a remarkable rookie year had that not happened. Just good matchup for us. Honestly, just a good matchup for us. Offensive line always sets the tone. Love playing out here in New York. Cowboy fans travel well. Just taking it game by game. When you get to see somebody twice, that obviously helps. Just continuing to try to build on that. Whether it be this team, Washington, any division games, just take a lot of pride in winning those games. Understand you take care of your division. You have a chance to make the postseason, and then from there you can worry about that.
Q: On the podcast I do, we’ve been taking the call of Hunter Luepke, ‘L-Boogie’. Do you guys have a nickname for him at all?
A: Honestly, I barely ever say his name. I don’t even know if that’s the right way to pronounce it. I usually call him, ‘Mike All-Starter Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco’. Yeah, so he’s a stud.
Q: How important was it to respond to the early field goal in the touchdowns…
A: Huge. Especially after going three and out on our first drive, those guys go down there and get points. Talking about momentum in the season, it’s huge in these games, especially division games. Obviously, they’ve got something going. You look at their last couple of games, the confidence that they have in themselves and their offense. Young, great receiver. (Giants quarterback) Daniel’s (Jones) playing well, so it was important for us to just get out there and respond. We did that in the next two drives, but as I mentioned, we’ve got to continue to do that and build and play from our standards.
Q: (cornerback) Amani (Oruwariye) Did he really get you in the first practice?
A: He really did. Yeah, I believe so. Honestly, when he threw it, I’m like, ‘who is that?’ To send something to him the next day, that’s the only one you’re going to get the whole time you’re here. He goes,’ no, I’m a ball guy’. I’m like, I like that. We’ll see.
Q: He makes a play at the end. You’ve got (Marshawn) Kneeland and (Chauncey) Golston in for the two guys. (T.J.) Bass has to come in for Zack (Martin) a little bit. There’s a lot of guys that had to come in and play for you. What does that do for you?
A: It’s huge. We’re going to need those guys. (Head) Coach (Mike) McCarthy talks about it all the time. Everybody that dresses up, everybody else has to support them. We need every single one of them. That’s why the practice reps during the week are important. Everybody and everything they do, the details have to take it serious. I’m proud of, especially when you see young guys step up and make the most of their opportunity. It was awesome. It was awesome for him to get that game-settling interception.
WR CeeDee Lamb
Q: CeeDee, Dak [Cowboys QB Dak Prescott] got you involved early today and often, how did that feel and what was working for you guys in the first half?
A: Obviously, getting started early is very important. Getting a feel for the game, seeing how they cover me, and exposing their hand early. It felt good, and I appreciate it.
Q: The 55-yard touchdown, can you take us through what the plan was there and how you executed it?
A: Finally, I got a one-on-one [coverage]. I think that was the only one-on-one I got all game, and we exploited it. Shoutout to Dak [Cowboys QB Dak Prescott] for where he put the ball, and shoutout to the O.C. [Dallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer] for the play-call.
Q: What is your mindset when you know that you’re not going to get a lot of one-on-one opportunities, so when you do, what is your mindset?
A: Let’s go score; that is my mindset. Whenever I get one-on-one, let’s go score.
Q: It looks like you were kind of debating with yourself ‘Do I taunt, do I not?’ [on the 55-yard touchdown reception], what was going through your mind at that time?
A: Everything was just kind of going by fast in that situation. All of the passion and everything kind of came out of me. Granted, I scored first, so that was a plus, but I told my coaches that will not happen again. I get one a year and that was my one.
CB Trevon Diggs
Q: Defense got a lot of criticism. Can you speak to the fact that no touchdowns were allowed today?
A: We played good football today. We got to clean up a little bit more stuff, but we did a great job of keeping them out of the end zone. Making them kick three and just keeping them with no touchdowns.
Q: How are you feeling? I know you left the game.
A: I feel good. I feel like we did pretty good as a whole. We’re stopping them and we won, so obviously we did good.
Q: Speaking of how the defensive backs felt during the game, rotating bodies out there, getting it done?
A: Yeah, just trying to get that other missing piece. We’re going to get it done. We did a good job. (Wide receiver Malik) Nabers had a good game though. He’s a really good player. We just got to get a little stuff cleaned up and we’ll be okay.
Q: I saw you talking to (linebacker) Micah (Parsons) when he was on the ground. What were you telling him?
A: I was just making sure he was straight. He’s my best friend so I just wanted him to be good but he’s going to be okay
Q: What was he telling you in that moment?
A: He’s going to be alright.
Q: What does it say about pulling out a game like this when you guys really got banged around pretty good?
A: It was a banger today. A lot of guys got banged up, but it just shows the fight and resilience we have in this team. Just being there for one another, going out there, play after play. Having that dog and just keep going.
Q: How tough is this turnaround on your body from Thursday to having to play last Sunday?
A: Yeah, it’s tough. I felt every bit of it.
Q: How big is this win towards the team’s confidence going into these next few weeks?
A: It’s really big. It’s time for us to get things rolling. I feel like we’re starting to get things rolling. We got to clean up a lot of penalties. I feel like everyone’s mind is in the right place. Everybody’s heading in the right direction and we’ll be alright.
Q: Do you feel like the defense played more as a unit tonight?
A: Yeah, 100 percent.
Q: How so?
A: Just being there, rallying to the ball, making tackles, communication. It just looked better, and it felt better. We kept them out of the endzone like I said. It was good.
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