Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's heartbreaking message to his late mother leaves fans in tears

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was not solely thinking about football on Thursday, as he wrote a heartbreaking message to his late mother on his wrist tape for the NFL season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Prescott's mom, Peggy Prescott, passed away in November 2013 due to colon cancer, during his sophomore season at Mississippi State. 

Thursday would have been Peggy's 64th birthday, with the memory of his mother weighing heavily on Prescott before the 24-20 loss. 

'Happy Birthday Mom!' Prescott wrote in all capital letters on his left wrist. 

Prescott finished the game against Dallas' NFC East rivals 21-of-34 passing for 188 yards, without a touchdown or interception. 

The Cowboys did not score a single point in the second half, while their defense only gave up a field goal. 

Even with the door open for the 32-year-old signal caller, beating expectations and taking down the defending Super Bowl champion was not in the cards for Prescott and the Cowboys after a tumultuous offseason. 

The Cowboys defense did not fall apart with a lack of Micah Parsons, who was traded to the Green Bay Packers last month to the dismay of most of the team's fan base after not securing a contract extension. 

Dealing one of the elite defensive players in the NFL could be a hinderance to the Cowboys moving forward, even if Thursday's performance was better than expected against a stout Eagles' offense. 

Prescott now has time to cool down for over a week before what is, on paper, an easier test in Week 2.  

The tests against NFC East foes will continue as the Cowboys host the New York Giants next Sunday. 

New York will be coming off a season opener against Dallas' arch rivals, the Washington Commanders, who alongside the Eagles, represented the NFC in last season's conference championship game.