ClutchPoints
The Dallas Cowboys exceeded the expectations of many NFL fans on Thursday Night Football. The Eagles were heavy favorites on banner night for the Super Bowl 59 champions. But the Cowboys hung around for the entire game, losing a close one 24-20 despite a number of bizarre circumstances throughout the evening.
Eagles DT Jalen Carter was ejected before the first offensive snap of the game. And the second half featured a lightning delay that sapped all the life out of the contest.
Many fans expected the Eagles to steamroll the Cowboys and cruise to an easy win. But credit to the Cowboys for going score for score with the Eagles in the first half. And for keeping the score close during the second half.
In fact, first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer is still bullish on Dallas being able to make the Super Bowl.
“I still think we can win a Super Bowl,” he said. “It’s not going to change. I mean, we’ve got the right type of guys. We’ve got good players.”
But enough positives. After all, the Cowboys did lose this game.
So who can the Cowboys blame this loss on? Was it a total team collapse, or do one or two players share the majority of the responsibility?
Below we will explore the Cowboys player most responsible for Thursday’s heartbreaking Week 1 loss against the Eagles.
We have to start with CeeDee Lamb.
It is tough for a football team when their superstar players cannot rescue a game. That’s exactly what happened with Lamb.
CeeDee had arguably three dropped passes on Thursday night. All of them came during the second half. That doesn’t count a diving catch attempt by Lamb during the team’s last offensive play of the game.
You have to give Lamb credit for taking full responsibility for those mistakes.
“Man, that was terrible,” Lamb said after the game, per the team’s official website. “I can’t point fingers at anybody else. I take full accountability and everything else that comes with that. As a player, I’ve prayed for moments like that, and for the ball to come my way. To not come up with it, it stings a little bit.”
If any one of those catches had been hauled in, the Cowboys could have won the game.
Lamb may be partly responsible for Thursday’s loss. But the Cowboys are still in great hands with Lamb as their top target.
The superstar receiver still hauled in seven receptions for 110, including to big plays of 20+ yards each.
Cowboys fans can expect Lamb to bounce back next week against the Giants.
The veteran running back proved why it was so easy for the Cowboys to acquire him this offseason.
Sanders had a handful of plays that left Cowboys fans scratching their heads during the third quarter.
First, we’ll give Sanders some credit.
He ripped off...
