Troy Aikman Outlines What Dak Prescott and Cowboys Have to Do to Reach Playoffs
Dak Prescott and his Dallas Cowboys are currently 3-5-1, which means they have a mountain to climb in the hotly contested and tight NFC to reach the playoffs.
The death of former defensive end
They have returned to practice and should be looking to iron out most of the mistakes they committed in their last game, a Week 9 debacle in front of their home fans at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals.
That game highlighted not only their season-long defensive problems but also revealed where Prescott and his offense went wrong. Franchise legend Troy Aikman, while speaking on NFL Live, detailed what needs to change.
It’s indicative of just how much they rely on the offense… If they don’t play at their best, they are going to have a hard time winning… This offense, the last 2 weeks, has not played very well. They’ve turned the ball over. I think you can run a case that they should run the ball a little more than what they do.
Troy Aikman said
The three-time Super Bowl winner feels that since the defense will take time to improve, it is on Dak Prescott and his offense to ensure they do their part well.
Otherwise, they will struggle against anyone. The offense has to stop turning the ball over, run more, and they have to take advantage of the weapons they currently have.
Troy Aikman warns of upcoming tough schedule
Once Troy Aikman talked about what Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys offense need to do to stay on top of their opponents, the Hall of Famer detailed to Laura Rutledge how the upcoming schedule is a problem.
They’ve got a gauntlet of games once they get past this game on Monday night against Las Vegas. You hate to say it, but that’s when the tough part of their schedule hits them. They have to get better.
Troy Aikman said
Aikman understood that the team was dealing emotionally after the death of Marshawn Kneeland. But he hopes they use that as motivation to win against the Raiders.
He also hopes their two major trade acquisitions will use that game to understand their schemes. Once the Raiders’ game is over, it will get a lot tougher when facing 4 playoff contenders in their final 7 games.
Dak Prescott and his Cowboys have to win against Raiders
Before heading into their Week 10 bye, Dallas Cowboys fans had hoped their team would take care of business against an inconsistent Arizona Cardinals.
That did not happen, as essentially, the visitors gave them a thorough beating on both sides of the ball. In fact, they were mocking the Cowboys’ defense after every score. If America’s Team has to have a sliver of a chance of playing in the postseason, they have to win their Monday Night game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
They have to be mindful, as the latter can get hot, just like they did in Week 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. New acquisitions Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson have to set the tone if the defense wants to avoid another beatdown.
On the other side, Dak Prescott and his unit have to avoid a repeat of their mistakes against the Cardinals. This game against the Raiders is a must-win.
NBC Sports President Rick Cordella has decided to suspend Bengals' Super Bowl legend Cris Collinsworth just hours after his disrespectful remarks about the Steelers, right before the crucial matchup between the Steelers and Bengals this Sunday.
NBC Sports has immediately suspended Cris Collinsworth, the Super Bowl legend from the Cincinnati Bengals, after an inappropriate comment he made during Sunday Night Football sparked a social media storm. Collinsworth's remark came during the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers on the evening of November 13, 2025, just days before the crucial matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals scheduled for Sunday, November 14.
During the broadcast of the Chargers-Steelers game, Collinsworth made a controversial statement while describing the lack of offensive action in the game: "Eventually, someone needs to bust one out." Although his intent was to describe a breakthrough in the game, the phrase is commonly understood in a sexual context, which led to strong criticism from fans and experts on social media. Collinsworth's comment quickly became a hot topic, prompting NBC Sports to take swift action.
NBC Sports issued an official statement confirming Collinsworth’s suspension, stating:
"We are aware of the comments made during Sunday Night Football and have decided to suspend Cris Collinsworth immediately, pending an internal review. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism on air."
NBC Sports President Rick Cordella also addressed the incident, emphasizing the company's commitment to maintaining broadcasting integrity:
"We regret that Cris's comment was made on air," Cordella said. "We are committed to ensuring that our broadcasts reflect the standards our audience expects. We will conduct a thorough review and take appropriate action."
Collinsworth, who has earned 3 Pro Bowl selections and 1 Super Bowl championship during his career, is no stranger to viral moments, but this is the first time NBC has taken disciplinary action against him. The network’s decision reflects the increasing scrutiny that sports broadcasters face in the age of social media, where every word can instantly become a subject of controversy.
With the important Steelers vs Bengals game coming up on Sunday, NBC Sports has decided to have veteran host Mike Tirico continue as the primary play-by-play announcer, while a temporary analyst will be brought in to replace Collinsworth for the time being. The suspension will be reviewed as part of NBC's ongoing evaluation.
This incident is likely to affect NBC’s image, but with a commitment to upholding high standards, the network hopes to regain the trust of its audience in the near future.
