Cowboys - 40, Vikings - 3
Q. Please talk about tonight scoring your first seven possessions to start the game, just the level you and the offense were playing coming into this game.
A. Yeah, just focused. Obviously after last week I had a good week of prep, and just wanted to come in and set the standard and expectation that I talked about that we have for ourselves.
And just as you said, being able to go get points on the first seven drives honestly was just staying in the moment as all the guys were. I honestly couldn't have told you that. And I think just credit to us being dialed in and staying within each play, taking it play-by-play, giving our best. And it resulted in points on those drives that obviously gives us a lead and allows the defense to go hunt.
Q. You guys leaned on Ezekiel Elliott real heavily on that first offensive drive. Could you talk about how you guys use as an identity establishing running the ball and it just went from there?
A. Physical running. Obviously starts up front. As we've talked about getting double teams around Zach, Terance Tyler, Connor and Tyler to keep their shoulder squared. And Zeke -- and to do the rest. And to make those guys, those double teams work.
He's a physical runner. Obviously having him back, being able to set that tone early just gives us the attitude we wanted, how the game's going to go. Just being able to do that, I think defense understood what kind of game it was, and we were just able to continue to build off of that.
Q. You said this week that you thought maybe you should get out of the pocket more and bring your mobility into play. You did that seemed like tonight. What kind of factor is that and do you really think you're getting any better in getting out of bounds (inaudible)?
A. Yeah, I do. And as I said, it's just about knowing that I can go get three or four just stay ahead of the change, even get back to the line of scrimmage (indiscernible) on the first one.
It's huge not putting us in negative situations, making it easier on the play caller just us as an offense continuing to move forward. That's better than an incompletion. So just being able to do that I think is going to pay off big for us.
Q. You know how fast Tony is --
A. For sure.
Q. How do defenses not seem to know how fast he is?
A. It's not my problem (laughter). They should turn on the tape and check him out. Obviously if it's him breaking runs in the backfield or him catching the ball on swing routes or go balls, I continue to say the guy's special. He can do a lot of different things to help this offense on this team day in and day out.
Q. On the long touchdown, did you know you're going to him, or Mike said that was your last read on the play?
A. Let's give credit to Kellen there. It was a great play call by Kellen. Saw exactly what we wanted. That's the matchup we wanted when we saw him on that defense.
That touchdown is pretty much all Kellen as much as it is the pass and Tony and the catch and the run. It was perfect timing. Got the look we wanted. We were just able to execute it at that level.
Q. Can you speak to just how different the noise level was in the stadium from the beginning of the game to the middle of the second quarter? It seemed like one of the loudest we've seen to just silent. Did you feel that?
A. Yeah, definitely. Obviously knowing coming in we knew the type of environment this place can have. Calls in ruckus with the sound, just with the way the fans get into it, the skull chant, it sets up for a great atmosphere.
But credit to the guys in that huddle. Different guys were saying different things on different drives about getting us going and staying focused.
One of the guys says, hey, let's send some fans home early, early in the second half. And I think that's to your point. Those guys felt that whether they got up and left, it definitely got quiet, and just allowed us to play to our tempo and just to play to our standard. And it was great.
Q. And that catch by CeeDee just before the half along the lines, that was huge seemed like to make it a three-score game at that point. What did you see on that play and what did you see from his catch? Just an outstanding moment for him.
A. Framed it. I don't understand why there was a review. But that happens. But he got out and got open, found a zone. Just sat in it. And just were able to give him a chance.
From the moment he framed it up, two feet down, incredible concentration and catch by him that set up for a huge two-attempt, two field attempts for Brett there. Continue to be money.
Q. When you were out, Dak, you said while watching the game you could see how simple it could become. Was tonight a good example of what you were talking about?
A. Yes, sure. And just going along with obviously being able to use my feet just to stay ahead of the chains when things aren't there.
Everybody just played well tonight. And it starts with the focus and our preparation throughout the week and just how we came in. As I said taking it play-by-play, heightening the focus and then the finish -- you can take over (laughter) -- and the finish from each and every guy was just outstanding.
That's our standard and expectations. We've got to continue to build on that, understanding that this is one game. We've got a quick turnaround coming Thanksgiving. We've got to get in tomorrow, make sure we build off of this, learn from this, in every way that we can, the good, the bad and everything in between and go out and put another performance together similar to this on Thursday.
Q. Has your team had a better response to a loss, the way you all responded, the bitter angst of last week to come back and have performance like this?
A. That's a great question. I don't know if we have, honestly, in my time. But I can tell you I knew that this was coming just in the fact of the preparation and the focus and honestly the way that the defense -- I saw at practice, those guys, 100 miles per hour. I said this is going to be tough for the guys on the other side.
The way they were attacking the way their focus was, obviously talking to them and communicating with them.
And, yeah, this is a good group. And when we were able to just continue to keep our focus. As I say, we've got to take it one game at a time.
Right now the challenge is handling success. Having a game like this in the NFL is tough to do. To be able to do that, we've got to put this behind us and know that we've got to go out there -- we're as good as our last game. We've got to turn the page and go put another one together on Thursday.
Q. How good were you feeling today? The throw to CeeDee. You talk about your frame, the throw had to be perfect. And the one to Tony, you could have handed it to him better than. How good did you have it going with your passing today?
A. I felt good. It just goes into preparation. It's a tough game. I'm not going to say I didn't feel good last week. So that's just part of it, just being able to go out there, put a good performance together. As I said, it's about turning the page and learning from the good, the bad, everything about this game and building off of this, make sure we continue to stack.
Q. Micah said in that first series, you talked about the defense (inaudible), what does that do for you guys, his energy what he brings?
A. He's a special player. Obviously talking to him last night, I knew he was going to have a game like he did tonight. That's the mentality. That's the mentality that you want in these guys. That's what we've got to continue to communicate and pull from each other and hold each other accountable. We've got guys that are able to go do the things they want to do. And he's special. And we have to make sure we're accountable to one another, holding the guys to the standard, holding our team to the standard and continuing to chase our own expectations and we'll just be fine.
Q. Was it anything Micah said last night or just his overall demeanor?
A. Just a little bit of both, a little bit of both. Just chasing greatness, honestly. It was one of those conversations, chasing greatness. He has an opportunity to be one of the best to play this game. It was a conversation with me and him and a couple of other guys, just challenging him to do that. And that's obviously what he wants to do. And we weren't challenging him to do anything that he doesn't believe in and has that mentality. It was just something that was brought up that I took the analogy of, yeah, he's going to have a big day.
Q. You got to experience this quick turnaround several times now. What have you learned most about handling this week that you will do this week?
A. This one is done. This one is done. Huge win. And celebrate for a couple hours, but we've got to get up in the morning and get in and get our walk-through in and get whatever the schedule is. Be locked in on the New York Giants and understanding that this is a good team. It's a good team that -- don't know what happened today, but they're winning. They're a winning team in our division. So gotta turn the page, come in with the same focus we did on this game. As I said, continue to stack and we'll be fine.
Q. So what happened to them was you guys. You mentioned coming into this game it was going to be a playoff environment. 8-1 team. Could you talk about what's the statement? It's a statement one for you guys. What do you feel is the statement you feel coming out of this game?
A. As I said, we've got to hold each other accountable. Understanding that the defense, the offense, the playmakers that we have, the special teams, this team can be special. But we've got to take it one game at a time. And I said, we can't have a winning hangover, start smelling ourselves after this win.
It's about turning the page, getting in tomorrow, being our best tomorrow, staying in the moment, the preparation. JK said it the best, dominating. That's going to be the mindset as we move forward tomorrow and preparing for Thursday.
Q. You have criticism after last week's game. Your brother gets involved in Twitter and all that stuff. Can you put that out of your mind? How do you handle that, and is that in your motivation factor before you go bouncing back like that?
A. I'm not necessarily active on Twitter. Yes, so I can't tell you what's going on on Twitter with you and my brother or whatever my brother may be saying (laughter). I'll leave that to him. Obviously I know he's passionate about his little brother. He's going to support him, and I appreciate that.
But I don't usually get motivation from what other people say. I'm very intrinsically inspired. A lot of things people in my life have moved me and a great team in there, guys I don't want to let down each and every day that make me the man that I am.
But, yeah, when you hear some things about your performance, all right, it comes from you guys, yeah. Things can stay. So it's about as here is as good as your last game. For me, it's about keeping it in forefront of my mind, knowing the people in the locker room, knowing that being accountable, building off how great we can be.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports