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Patrick Mahomes issued a bold challenge before the highly anticipated showdown, declaring: “Playing Dallas is just like a practice,” a loaded statement that forced Dak Prescott to speak up with a classy response moments later a response

Patrick Mahomes issued a bold challenge before the highly anticipated showdown, declaring: “Playing Dallas is just like a practice,” a loaded statement that forced Dak Prescott to speak up with a classy response moments later a response

Arlington, Texas. 27/11/2025
The atmosphere ahead of the Cowboys–Chiefs showdown was already intense, but everything truly exploded when Patrick Mahomes dropped the most controversial line of the week. In a brief pre-game interview, when asked about the difficulty of facing Dallas, Mahomes smiled and answered bluntly:

“Playing Dallas is just like a practice.”

The statement immediately spread across NFL Twitter, igniting waves of reaction throughout Cowboys Nation. Some Chiefs fans insisted Mahomes was joking, but most saw it as a deliberate challenge — one that struck directly at the pride of the star-studded franchise currently playing its best football of the month in the NFC.

According to ESPN sources, as soon as the quote reached the Cowboys’ locker room, the atmosphere shifted. Several young players were visibly irritated, and Micah Parsons was described as “smirking with clear annoyance,” but the most anticipated response came from Dak Prescott — who stayed silent for a long moment before delivering his answer.

And when Dak finally spoke, the entire NFL stopped to listen.

At today’s press conference, Prescott stepped to the podium, looked straight into the camera, and delivered a calm but razor-sharp message:

“If someone thinks the Cowboys are just a practice, then they’ll learn the truth on Sunday. In Dallas, we don’t talk much — we let 60 minutes on the field speak for us.”
Preview

The room went quiet for a few seconds before erupting in chatter. Cowboys Nation hailed it as “Dak’s strongest message to an opponent ever,” while analysts from ESPN to Fox Sports praised him for responding like a true leader — no trash talk, no escalation, just a cold warning anchored in confidence.

A team member shared:
“Dak rarely fires back publicly. But when he does, you know the Cowboys are about to fight with everything they have.”

On social media, Parsons reposted Dak’s quote with the caption: “Let’s show them.”
CeeDee Lamb wrote: “A practice? Let’s see who studied harder.”

While the Chiefs have remained silent since, it’s clear Mahomes unintentionally poured gasoline on an already volatile rivalry.

The Cowboys head into this matchup not just aiming for a win — but determined to prove that Dallas will never be anyone’s “practice.”
And with Prescott’s classy yet cutting response, the NFL now awaits a showdown that promises fireworks at every snap.

Less Than 48 Hours After AFC Championship 7-10 Loss to Patriots, Broncos Stun NFL by Firing OC Super Bowl XLIV Joe Lombardi
Less Than 48 Hours After AFC Championship Loss, Broncos Stun NFL by Firing Super Bowl XLIV OC Joe Lombardi Denver, Colorado – January 2026 Less than 48 hours after a heartbreaking 10–7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, the Denver Broncos sent shockwaves through the NFL. In a move few saw coming, Denver dismissed offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, signaling an immediate and unforgiving response to falling one step short of the Super Bowl. The decision was first reported and confirmed by Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The timing alone raised eyebrows across the league, as postseason firings typically follow deeper internal reviews. Instead, Denver acted swiftly, making it clear that even a conference championship appearance would not shield staff from accountability. The #Broncos fired OC Joe Lombardi, per me and @TomPelissero. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 27, 2026 Lombardi spent three seasons in Denver under head coach Sean Payton, a long-time collaborator from their years together with the Saints. Lombardi was part of New Orleans’ Super Bowl XLIV championship staff in 2009 and was widely respected for his system knowledge and experience in high-pressure environments. That résumé made the decision even more surprising. Adding to the shock, Lombardi was credited internally with unlocking the potential of rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Before Nix suffered a broken bone in his ankle, Denver’s offense had shown notable growth and composure. Many around the league believe the Broncos might have won the AFC Championship had Nix been healthy enough to finish the game. Complicating the aftermath, a controversial quote attributed to Lombardi circulated online shortly after his dismissal, alleging wrongdoing by New England. “The Patriots cheated and it cost me my job,” the statement read. Neither the Broncos nor the NFL substantiated the claim, and team sources stressed the firing was strictly performance-based, not influenced by outside narratives. Inside the organization, the move is being framed as a necessary reset. While Payton is known for loyalty to his assistants, the lack of offensive rhythm in the championship game — particularly with the backup quarterback — reportedly accelerated the decision. Denver’s leadership appears unwilling to allow postseason stagnation to linger. With Bo Nix positioned as the franchise cornerstone, the Broncos will now search for a modern offensive coordinator capable of thriving under playoff pressure. By acting immediately, Denver sent a clear message to the league: close is not close enough. In a Super Bowl-or-bust era, the margin for patience in Denver has officially vanished.