MVP Candidate Dak Prescott Explains 'Secret' Turkey Leg Stash in Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving Kettle
ARLINGTON - In Washington, the move is being portrayed as "disrespectful.'' In Arlington on Thanksgiving, it was just a matter of "secret'' confidence that would've never seen its foil unwrapped had the Dallas Cowboys not been well on their way to a 45-10 holiday win over the Commanders.
“Team effort, team idea,” said QB Dak Prescott of the idea of stashing a turkey leg in each of the four end-zone Salvation Army kettles, just in case an appropriate celebration was earned on Thursday. “We talked about it as probably a two-, three-day long process of whether it be a 15-yard (penalty) and whether coach would accept (the penalty).
“Sure enough, right after I threw the one to (KaVontae Turpin), I was like ‘Yeah, let’s go for it.’ And it was good.”
That is, the turkey leg was "good,'' as in "delicious'' ... and 34-yard touchdown fourth-quarter pass was good, meaning the players had permission from coach Mike McCarthy to have their fun in the kettle.
"I just told them that that game better be well out of hand before we start pulling turkey (legs) out of a kettle can,'' said McCarthy, conceding with a laugh, "That was a little different pregame for me.”
Also, as one might guess, owner Jerry Jones was privy to the pregame conference about the move, an offshoot from when former Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott, along with Prescott and other teammates, would turn the gigantic kettles into celebratory props.
“If I thought we could have the result of him playing like he is,” Jones said after the game, “I’ll make that a staple on the sideline for every home game.”
Shortly thereafter, Prescott, knowing his day was complete and that it was about time for dinner, continued chomping on his main course while on the Cowboys sideline. ... allowing the NFL world to take in how he's built an MVP campaign.
Prescott finished here 22 of 32 passing for 331 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions with 142.1 passer rating. Since the Cowboys lost at San Francisco, a game in which he had three picks, Prescott is experiencing the hottest stretch of his career, as in the last six games, Prescott has completed 148 of 210 passes (70.5 percent) for 1,874 yards (312 per game), 18 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 122.6 passer rating. He has also rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
The 18:2 TD:INT ratio over a six-game span is remarkable, but note this: For the season, 8-3 Dallas has benefitted from Dak's total TD:INT ratio being 23:6.
After an offseason during which critics were obsessed with Prescott having led the NFL in interceptions in 2022 - lowlighted by the ridiculous assertion that "turnovers are in Dak's DNA'' - 23:6 is pretty remarkable, too.
What is central to the fix? Obviously the installation of the "Texas Coast Offense'' with McCarthy calling his own plays has been a key.
Prescott said that play-caller McCarthy is “definitely on fire.''
Said McCarthy of the QB/play-caller relationship: "You need to be finishing each other’s sentences. I feel like we’re there. I think that’s all a part of that rhythm. My job is to tee it up for him. He has the big job, the real job and that’s the plan.''
The win improved the Cowboys’ league-best home win streak to 13 games, and they don't just win here at AT&T Stadium - they demolish visitors, as they are now the first team in NFL history to win each of their first five home games by 20-plus points.
"Guys are running, guys are running to win and (McCarthy) is flying them off the call sheet,'' said Dak at night's end. "It feels good.”
