How the Dak Prescott-CeeDee Lamb deep-ball connection opens up Cowboys offense, vaults QB into MVP talks

FRISCO, Texas — In life, sometimes you need to hit rock bottom before reaching the mountaintop. The Dallas Cowboys have gone through that journey during the 2023 season, getting pummeled 42-10 at the San Francisco 49ers on “Sunday Night Football” while quarterback Dak Prescott threw a season-high three interceptions and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb totaled just 49 yards in Week 5.

Fast forward to the present moment, and the 9-3 Cowboys have won six of their last seven games, with the lone loss coming in a narrow 28-23 defeat at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9. Entering their first “Sunday Night Football” matchup since that 49ers game and facing the other 2022 NFC Championship Game participant in the 10-2 Eagles, Prescott is now the co-NFL MVP betting favorite (+300) along with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the Cowboys now averaging a league-leading 32.3 points per game. The shift began when Lamb questioned the team’s offensive identity and demanded he be more involved. 

“Yeah, y’all panicked,” Prescott said Thursday. “We didn’t. Honestly. I appreciate the hell out of that guy [Lamb]. Everything he does. He’s a professional. What I appreciate most about is really just him saying, you know who he is and what expects from himself and really that conversation that he had with me and with [head coach] Mike [McCarthy] of really just saying, ‘I think I can change this game. I think I’m a big-time playmaker and all I’m asking for is a little bit more opportunity to show it.'”

Lamb has showcased his ability and then some. His 90 catches are the most in Cowboys history through the first 12 games of a season, and his 1,182 receiving yards have him on pace to break Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s single-season, franchise receiving yards record of 1,603 set in 1995. 

CeeDee Lamb stats in 2023 season

Receptions

90

3rd

Receiving Yards

1,182

2nd

Receiving…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/how-the-dak-prescott-ceedee-lamb-deep-ball-connection-opens-up-cowboys-offense-vaults-qb-into-mvp-talks/

Author : Garrett Podell

Publish date : 2023-12-08 21:13:29

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.