Dak Prescott confronts the offensive blunders and momentum-shifting turnovers that fueled a demoralizing division loss, urging a defiant locker room to stay focused during the long season ahead.
The dust is beginning to settle after the Dallas Cowboys' season-opening loss to the New York Giants... and it still isn't getting any better.
The game has been dissected to within an inch of its life, and Christian Parker's defense is the one that is bearing the brunt of the criticism.
And rightly so.
But they weren't the only ones who failed. Dak Prescott and the offense in the first half did as well.
The three-and-out to start the game when the offense should have gone for it on fourth down and then Prescott's interception as the half was coming to a close felt like it tilted the game New York's way, as it scored from the ensuing possession.
And as it turns out, Dak thinks that his turnover played a huge role in the loss.
"The interception at half, I mean, that was crucial," Dak said. "Trying to throw the ball away, that guy made a hell of a play. I've got to make sure it's out of bounds, though. I think that was a huge part in the game, they scored before half, they got the ball right start of half and they went and scored.
"Limited our possessions in the second half only gave us two possessions and that was the game right there."
After an offseason of such hope and optimism, to then fall on your face, and that badly, it has led to some rethinking of what this team can be.
Now, we aren't going to overreact to one game, but that's tough when you see what was put on film by the defense and how bumpy the offense looked.
But after an offseason that saw the defense be much improved, and the offense as explosive as ever, to dish up what Dallas did, that isn't good.
However, despite the loss, the Cowboys' goals, at least according to Dak, haven't changed.
"It sucks to lose, it damn sure sucks to lose the first one, to this team, a division game, but still optimistic," Dak said. "That doesn't change our goals, that doesn't change how we feel about our team. As I said, credit to those guys. They beat us.
"This is a marathon, though it is a long season and we're going to respond. We've got great leaders, and I feel confident in even the message and the feel in the locker room after that. Guys are pissed off. Nobody is more disappointed than the players and coaches and everybody that put this game plan together and tried to execute it. And we had a failure to do so."
And what Dallas can control is playing better football.
No more silly penalties that plagued the team once again, no miscommunications, and lastly, not to get bullied on both sides of the ball.
Granted, that seems easier said than done, but for Dallas, if it falls to Washington in Week 2 and starts the year 0-2, you can nearly kiss the playoffs goodbye for a third straight year.
