As the curtain falls on the 2025 NFL regular season, all eyes in the American football world are on star quarterback Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys ahead of their final Week 18 clash. The Cowboys, once hopeful for a postseason run, now face a finale shaped by professional pride, future draft positioning, and careful player management, with their playoff dreams officially extinguished.
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Confirms Prescott's Starting Role
In a definitive statement this week, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones put an end to speculation, confirming that Dak Prescott will indeed be under center when the team faces the New York Giants on Sunday. Speaking candidly on a local radio show, Jones emphasised that the franchise has no intention of completely shutting down their marquee quarterback for the meaningless game.
"We're going to start Dak," Jones declared. However, he notably stopped short of guaranteeing how long the veteran signal-caller would remain in the contest. This deliberate ambiguity has sparked widespread conjecture that Prescott's night could be cut short, depending on the flow of the game and the overarching need to manage injury risk.
With Dallas officially eliminated from the playoff picture, the priority of safeguarding key assets like Prescott has become a valid and pressing concern for the team's management.
Prescott's Drive: Leadership and Finishing Strong
Despite the team's disappointing season, Dak Prescott has been unwavering in his public stance. The quarterback has consistently voiced his strong desire to play and to finish the campaign on a high note. For Prescott, the driving forces are personal pride and innate competitiveness, even in a year that has fallen well short of the organisation's lofty standards.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has also confirmed Prescott as the starter for the Giants game. Securing a winning record holds significant value for Prescott, who firmly believes his presence on the field gives the Cowboys their best opportunity to end a frustrating year with a positive result.
From his perspective, Week 18 is less about draft calculus and more about upholding a standard within the team's locker room. This mindset highlights Prescott's core leadership principles: a steadfast commitment to accountability and consistency, regardless of the external circumstances.
Why the Finale Still Holds Weight for Dallas and New York
The outcome of Week 18 carries tangible consequences, even with the Cowboys' postseason hopes dashed. Dallas currently finds itself in the middle of the order for the 2026 NFL Draft, and a win or loss could see them shift a few slots up or down, potentially impacting their future prospects.
Perhaps more intriguingly, the game has major implications for their opponents, the New York Giants. The Giants are in contention for the coveted No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. A full game from a motivated Dak Prescott substantially boosts the likelihood of a Giants loss, aiding their quest for the top selection. Conversely, an early Prescott exit could tilt the momentum in New York's favour.
This added dynamic injects a strategic layer into the Cowboys' decision-making process regarding Prescott's playing time.
All indications suggest Prescott will take the first snap and likely lead several offensive series before the Cowboys' brass re-evaluates. The team has wisely avoided publicly committing to a specific snap count, preserving flexibility based on in-game factors like player health, the scoreline, and the overall feel of the contest.
For Dak Prescott, this final game is one last chance to reinforce his role as the team's leader and to cap a trying season with resolve. For the Dallas Cowboys organisation, it represents a delicate balancing act between present-day competitiveness and prudent long-term planning.
The final decision on Prescott's workload may remain unclear until kickoff or even halftime. But one fact is absolutely certain: when Week 18 begins, Dak Prescott will not be a spectator on the sidelines.
