Following the Dallas Cowboys’ tough 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, star receiver CeeDee Lamb found himself under scrutiny—not for a lack of effort, but for a surprising reason. Despite Lamb’s standout performance, hauling in 13 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns, NFL reporter Ed Werder’s post-game critique laid some of the blame for Dak Prescott’s interceptions on Lamb’s shoulders.
“Never seems CeeDee Lamb makes much of an effort to prevent INT when Dak makes poor throw,” Werder tweeted, igniting a debate on social media about Lamb’s role in the Cowboys’ turnovers. Yet, Lamb’s performance told a different story. He was the focal point of Dallas’ offense, while the rest of the Cowboys’ receivers combined for just 12 catches and 97 yards. The talented receiver’s contributions came amid heavy expectations, especially after Cowboys legend Troy Aikman criticized the team’s receivers for “lazy” route running earlier in the week.
Never seems CeeDee Lamb makes much of an effort to prevent INT when Dak makes poor throw. https://t.co/icOKGgMq7L
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) October 28, 2024
Dak Prescott himself took full responsibility for the interceptions. Reflecting on the game, Prescott admitted he made costly errors, saying, “I don’t have to be perfect, but I damn sure can’t be having the turnovers… The second [interception] was as boneheaded of an interception as I’ve had. Should’ve just thrown it away… That one hurts, starting off the third quarter that way… That’s on me. We can’t have that.”
Prescott’s statement highlights his awareness of his mistakes, making Werder’s criticism of Lamb appear misplaced. While everyone has a right to their analysis, blaming a wide receiver running full speed for a poorly placed throw is challenging to justify. Prescott’s accountability is what many fans expect in a team leader, and Lamb’s performance speaks for itself.
As the Cowboys move forward, they will look to build on Lamb’s efforts and Prescott’s determination to cut down on mistakes. Meanwhile, it’s likely fair to say that the focus should be on refining the team’s overall execution rather than pointing fingers at a player who showed up when it mattered.
