Todd Archer
PHILADELPHIA — Professional Bowl broad receiver CeeDee Lamb shouldered the blame for the Dallas Cowboys' season-opening, 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday evening at Lincoln Monetary Area.
“Man, that is horrible,” he mentioned within the locker room. “Truthfully, I really feel like I can not level no finger at anyone else.”
Lamb had three drops, together with two within the fourth quarter that prevented the Cowboys from pulling off an upset on the evening the Eagles celebrated final season's Tremendous Bowl championship.
Throughout coaching camp, Lamb, who had seven drops final season, mentioned one of many targets he had for 2025 was to undergo the season and not using a drop. His first got here within the second quarter and prevented the Cowboys from scoring a landing on three straight possessions to begin the sport, forcing them to finally accept a Brandon Aubrey area aim.
“It wasn't simply these performs,” quarterback Dak Prescott mentioned. “There's throws on the market that I need again. However it's Recreation 1, and he is a man that makes these performs. He'll make these performs. I am not going to get down on him. I am not going to lose confidence by any means. And he'll make these performs.”
Prescott didn't shrink back from going to Lamb. He had a game-high 13 targets. And when the sport was on the road, Prescott appeared his approach.
With 2:40 to play, Lamb had his most important drop — his third — because the Cowboys had been searching for a go-ahead rating. Prescott completely positioned a deep cross in Lamb's path, but it surely bounced out of his arms harmlessly, leaving Lamb shocked.
It was his first three-drop recreation since Week 13 final yr towards the New York Giants.
Had he made that catch, the Cowboys would have had the ball contained in the Eagles' 20 and had not been stopped within the pink zone of their two first-half makes an attempt.
“I take full accountability and every part that is going to come back with it,” Lamb mentioned. “As for me as a participant, I've prayed for moments like that and for the ball to come back my approach, and for me to not provide you with it, that stings just a little bit.”
After a defensive cease, the Cowboys confronted fourth-and-3 from their 45 after the two-minute warning. Lining up within the slot, Lamb gained leverage on Cooper DeJean on a deep throw that was simply out of his attain whereas diving. Although not counted as a drop, it is a catch Lamb, a three-time Professional Bowl participant and within the second yr of an extension that averages $34 million per season, expects to make.
“I do not fear about CeeDee Lamb,” coach Brian Schottenheimer mentioned. “CeeDee's going to be fantastic. An excellent participant. Once more, this was a group defeat, and we personal that.”
Lamb completed with seven catches for a game-high 110 yards. It was his twenty second profession recreation with a minimum of 100 receiving yards, tying Corridor of Famer Bob Hayes for third most in franchise historical past. Solely Corridor of Famer Michael Irvin (47) and Tony Hill (26) have extra in group historical past as receivers. It was his third 100-yard recreation of his profession towards the Eagles.
However it was the three that acquired away that bothered Lamb most, and he was not going to make use of a scarcity of preseason motion as an element.
“That ain't acquired nothing to do with what is going on on proper now,” he mentioned. “I must catch the rattling ball.”
