The Dallas Cowboys‘ 2025 season hit a new low this weekend, with the team being officially eliminated from playoff contention after a 34-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and other NFC results going against them.

Instead of focusing solely on opponents, quarterback Dak Prescott used his postgame platform to deliver a message that went beyond X’s and O’s, directing scrutiny inward toward his own locker room’s effort level and resolve.

Prescott‘s comments, delivered with measured intensity, underscored frustration with how the season has unfolded and how some teammates have responded to adversity.

“This game has given us so much; how could you cheat it?” he said, calling into question what he perceives as a disappointing drop in effort within America’s Team.

Dallas now sits at 6-8-1 with just three games left on the schedule, and no mathematical chance of reaching the postseason.

This marks the second straight year the Cowboys miss the playoffs, a disappointing outcome for a franchise with championship expectations.

Prescott did more than criticize the team’s effort. He reminded everyone of the fleeting nature of an NFL career and urged his teammates to find meaning in the remaining games.

“We got two weeks left, and nothing’s promised in life, right? Football careers damn sure aren’t,” Prescott said, emphasizing the opportunity that still exists to compete hard and appreciate the game.

Locker room dynamics under the microscope

The Cowboys entered the 2025 campaign with optimism. Prescott, back at full health after missing significant time last year, was surrounded by offensive weapons like CeeDee Lamb, who has had standout moments despite injury setbacks this season.

However, pieces that could solidify the defense struggled to find consistent form, and injuries in the secondary, including multiple players in the defensive backfield, have further complicated Dallas’s efforts.

The trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers earlier in the year, a move born of failed contract negotiations, also reshaped the locker room dynamic.

Prescott had publicly acknowledged his surprise at the deal and pointed to the contentious nature of the negotiation as part of the backdrop for the Cowboys‘ decision-making.

Parsons‘ departure removed a disruptive defensive presence, and the linebacker’s subsequent comments about his old locker room added another layer to discussions about Dallas’s internal culture.

Season-long inconsistency has drawn attention from NFL analysts, with some labeling the Cowboys as a team that has struggled to find identity and cohesion in 2025.

Prior forecasts projected Dallas as a fringe playoff contender at best, with injuries and defensive woes repeatedly cited as vulnerabilities that could derail progress.

As for ownership, Jerry Jones has not shied away from candid assessments of the team’s performance. With the Cowboys mired in an underwhelming stretch, Jones openly acknowledged that the organization did not anticipate being “behind the eight ball” this late in December.

Outside observers have noted that Jones‘ leadership style often brings drama to the forefront, something Prescott himself has become accustomed to navigating throughout his Cowboys tenure.