Dak Prescott thanks reporter for pissing him off ahead of rivalry game vs 49ers

The Dallas Cowboys come face to face with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football this week. It’s a highly-anticipated matchup not only because of the 49ers’ unblemished record and the Cowboys’ current momentum, but also because San Francisco has bounced Dallas from the playoffs in each of the past two seasons – a fact Dak Prescott definitely hasn’t forgotten.

Ask about the motivation the loss last season provided for the team this year, Prescott had an unusually fiery response to ESPN reporter Todd Archer on Sunday.

“It’s obvious,” Prescott said after the win over the Patriots. “I mean, we’re so far past that, to be honest with you, that’s obvious. You just want to piss me off going into this week, and I appreciate that. I do actually. I do. I appreciate that. I appreciate that.”

Archer pressed on with his line of questioning, regardless of the QB’s snark.

“Every day,” Prescott said of how often he thinks of the feeling he had losing to the 49ers last year. “Every day.”

In last year’s 19-12 playoff loss, the Dallas QB had two interceptions. The interceptions only added to the offseason criticism of Prescott, and the Cowboys for sticking with him. So far this season, however, he has just one interception.

Cowboys eager for another crack at 49ers

General manager Jerry Jones stacked the pressure even higher on Sunday. He told reporters that playing against the 49ers, especially because they’re 4-0, will feel like his squad is playing for “all the marbles.”

If the Cowboys do beat San Franciso, their odds to win the Super Bowl will undoubtedly rise. They currently have the fifth-best odds behind the 49ers, Chiefs, Bills and Eagles (in that order). As they’re the visiting team on Sunday, it’s no surprise that Vegas has the Cowboys as 3.5-point underdogs for the SNF game.

“Here it is!” Jones said after Sunday’s win against the Patriots. “A win against the Niners would feel like you’re playing for all the marbles in the NFL. When you play against a team that is undefeated as we play them, we’re going to come in there and try to stay on the field with them.”

Cowboys veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins also discussed how it will feel to once again get a crack at the 49ers after the game on Sunday.

“Obviously, the last two years, they’ve had our number,” Hankins said. “So this game means a lot more to us than just a regular-season game… We’ve got to turn the page and beat the 49ers, man. It sucks to continue to lose to these guys.”

The series between the two teams is currently tied at 19 wins apiece, and one draw. The last time the Cowboys beat the 49ers on the road was in a late October matchup in 2017. Dallas dominated to the tune of 40-10.