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          NFL Nation

          Dez Bryant confident connection with Dak Prescott will come

          • Todd Archer, ESPN Staff WriterSep 22, 2017, 08:50 PM
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              Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You can follow him on Twitter at @toddarcher.
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          FRISCO, Texas -- With just nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown on 25 targets in the first two games, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant knows his numbers need to improve, but he is not about to panic.

          Much has been made about the Dak Prescott-to-Bryant connection early in the season, especially after things appeared to go smoothly in training camp and in the latter half of last season. In 15 games together, Bryant and Prescott have connected for 59 catches on 121 targets for 898 yards and nine touchdowns.

          "Of course that's not acceptable, but this is the National Football League," Bryant said. "Things are going to go right and then when they do, it's going to be the exact opposite ... Everything is going to be great. You got to treat the lows like the highs and highs like the lows. That's what it's about. This is minor. That is minor to us. If we focus on that, pay attention to that, we are just feeding into what everybody is talking about. We can't do none of that. We understand how this game goes. These are great football players and great teams we are going up against. It's not just me and him. It's everything. It's 11 guys versus 11 guys. That's the last thing on our mind because we know when it hits, it hits."

          In the opener, Bryant was matched up mostly against New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins. In Week 2, he saw Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. of the Denver Broncos. On Monday, he faces Patrick Peterson.

          "He is a super athlete, that’s who he is," Bryant said. "He is a helluva corner. He is arguably the best cornerback in the league. The guys is phenomenal. You got to be ready when you are going up against a guy like that. A real friend of mine. He knows how I am. I know how he is. It's going to be pretty darn good matchup Monday."

          Bryant said he loves that he sees the best cornerbacks each week. He said his practice approach has been "phenomenal."

          "There is no pressure. It's no pressure. It's my job. It's what I do," Bryant said. "This is the National Football League. My confidence is sky-high. It's going to always be that way. Monday night I got another shot at it. I can't wait. I can't wait to get out there Monday."