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Dak Prescott led the Dallas Cowboys to a 31-14 win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and, in the process, finally got a road playoff win three decades in the making. The Cowboys were in a dynasty in the 1990s, when they won three Super Bowls, but have found the going hard in the postseason since.
The last time they won on the road was on January 17, 1993. They were away at Candlestick Park playing the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. They would go on to win that game 30-20 and lift the Lombardi Trophy by defeating the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl that season.
Cowboys fans have had to wait a long time to savor this moment. It was brought to them courtesy of amazing play by Dak Prescott, who led from the front after his poor outing in the last game against the Washington Commanders. He had a completion rate of 75.8%, a passer rating of 143.3, 305 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. It was as comprehensive a performance as there could have been.
Tom Brady, on the other hand, looked his age on the field today. It is not something that can often be said of him. This is a quarterback who has had a Hall of Fame career just after turning forty. It is never wise to count him out. However, he was not up to his lofty standards today. He threw for 351 yards, but on 66 passing attempts, as they became increasingly frantic and erratic. He completed only 35 passes for a 53% completion rate. He threw for two touchdowns and one interception, and his passer rating was a meager 72.2. It capped a disappointing losing season for Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dak Prescott can revel in joy as Tom Brady mulls his next step
Dak Prescott now gets a chance to avenge his team's playoff loss last year against the San Francisco 49ers as they take on their foes in the divisional round. They will be on the road, but having broken the hoodoo today, anything ought to be possible.
Tom Brady will feel contrasting emotions instead. He unretired last season to return to the NFL and give it another shot. It has not been good on the field and has taken a toll on his personal life as well. We do not know if he will be back next season, and if so, where will he return. Whatever happens, it has been a privilege watching him play.
