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.
"It's indicative of just how much [the Dallas Cowboys] rely on the offense." @TroyAikman highlights the areas Dallas must clean up to find its groove again ✍️ pic.twitter.com/a1HscxSz0I
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL)
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
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.
The Texans remain in the playoff hunt, but their offensive identity may hinge on how effectively Mills and Collins can connect
The Houston Texans benefited from Davis Mills’ chemistry with Nico Collins in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they will need it against the Tennessee Titans in Week 11. Mills might not force the ball to Collins, but he will give him opportunities.
The Texans are looking to get back to .500 in Week 11. And with that, they hope to regain some footing in the AFC South race.
While it may not be Mills and the Texans’ only plan, targeting Collins often would be wise.
Davis Mills Gets Honest About Texans Targeting Nico Collins
Mills (No. 67 overall) and Collins (No. 68 overall) were both selected in the third round of the 2021 draft by the Texans.
They spent their first two seasons in the league as a budding QB-WR combo before the Texans selected Stroud No. 2 overall in 2023. Their rapport against the Jaguars – Collins turned a career-high 15 targets into a season-high 136 yards on seven receptions.
“They were giving us some looks where he was isolated in one-on-one coverage, and we liked the matchup. And then, there were other things where we were trying to scheme him to get him open. Nico is extremely explosive with the ball in his hand. And as many times as we can get him the ball, good things usually happen for us, so. And it also, if defense will start covering him, it opens up a lot of our other guys, too,” Mills told reporters on November 13.
“When he’s playing well, I think our whole offense is going to do well. But I don’t think anything was forced. It was just, Nico’s going to make a play. He’s open, he’s running good routes, he’s on time, and my offensive line’s doing a great job protecting. So, yeah. Obviously, we want to try to get him the ball.”
Collins has 40 receptions for 550 yards and 3 touchdowns entering Week 11. He had four grabs for 79 yards against the Titans in their first meeting in Week 4.
Davis Mills Praises Nick Caley
Mills finished the game with 292 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception in starter C.J. Stroud’s place. Mills also praised Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley for not having “an ego at all.”
He also touted the environment in their quarterback room.
“I think that’s one of the strengths of our quarterback room. I think everyone has a very open dialogue, and we talk through pretty much all the play calls that are going in the plan, and people’s comfort levels,” Mills said.
“Even when I wasn’t playing, and C.J. was taking all the snaps throughout the game, there’s still kind of some dialogue to make sure, if you ever get thrown in there, what are some of your favorites as well. Because anything can happen on game day. So, I think that’s something that, just as a room. Most quarterback rooms throughout the league probably do that as well.”
Mills said Caley is “willing to take a shot” on ideas, so long as “it works” and “it’s sound football-wise.”
Davis Mills Earning Defense’s Vote of Confidence
Mills spoke after the game about Danielle Hunter offering him words of encouragement during the Texans’ comeback.
He drew lofty praise from Will Anderson after leading them to victory.
“Man, I just seen a lion. I seen a lion on the hunt all day, man,” Anderson told reporters on November 9. “The way he led his troops, man. Up and down the field, man. He’s a star, and I’m happy to have him. He’s a blessing to this team. ‘Whenever your number is called …’ His number was called, and he delivered for us, man. And it’s really big for him, and this team.”
Whether Stroud returns to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 12 or not, Mills has made a strong impression on the Texans in his first starting stint since Week 18 of the 2022 season.
