The Dallas Cowboys’ playoff hopes officially flatlined on Saturday, and by Sunday, things somehow got worse. With the Philadelphia Eagles clinching the NFC East following a 29-18 win over the Washington Commanders, the Cowboys were already out of the postseason picture. Then came the gut punch: a 34-17 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers - Dallas’ fifth double-digit defeat of the season.
Let’s be clear - this wasn’t just a loss. It was a lopsided reminder of everything that’s gone wrong for the Cowboys this year, especially on defense.
The Chargers, who had struggled to crack 300 total yards in three of their last four games, exploded for a season-high 452 yards. Justin Herbert looked every bit the franchise quarterback, carving up the Dallas secondary for 300 yards and a near-flawless passer rating of 132.8 - his best of the season.
The Cowboys’ defense, which has been inconsistent all year, simply had no answers.
Offensively, Dallas started strong. The first half saw them move the ball well, racking up 211 total yards and 12 first downs.
But whatever rhythm they had disappeared after halftime. The second half was a complete shutdown: zero points, just 129 yards, and only six first downs.
It was a tale of two offenses - one that looked like it could hang with anyone, and another that couldn’t get out of its own way.
Now sitting in a precarious spot, the Cowboys must win their final two games just to avoid back-to-back losing seasons - something that hasn’t happened in Dallas since the early 2000s, when they slogged through three straight 5-11 campaigns from 2000 to 2002.
But even amid the disappointment, CeeDee Lamb gave Cowboys fans something to cheer about - and a bit of franchise history to celebrate.
With his six-catch, 51-yard performance, Lamb crossed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the fifth straight season. That puts him in elite company, joining Hall of Famer Michael Irvin as just the second wide receiver in Cowboys history to post five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Irvin did it from 1991 to 1995, and now Lamb - wearing the same iconic No. 88 - has matched that standard.
Lamb’s consistency has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s now one of only five players in franchise history to post 1,000 receiving yards in five of his first six seasons.
Zoom out to a league-wide view, and he’s just the third wide receiver in NFL history to record 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his first six years - joining Randy Moss and Mike Evans. That’s not just company - that’s royalty.
And he’s not doing it alone. With George Pickens also hitting the 1,000-yard mark, this season marks just the eighth time in Cowboys history that two players have reached that milestone in the same year.
The last duo to do it? Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup back in 2019.
Lamb’s numbers now sit at 565 career receptions for 7,366 yards - and he’s knocking on the door of another milestone. With 94 more receiving yards, he’ll pass Dez Bryant for fifth on the Cowboys’ all-time list. That opportunity comes on Christmas Day, when Dallas faces Washington again in what’s now a pride game - but also a chance for Lamb to etch his name even deeper into team history.
And then there’s the NFL record watch.
Coming into the week, Jarvis Landry held the record for most receptions through a player’s first six seasons with 564. Lamb has now passed that with 565.
But here’s the twist - he’s not alone. Justin Jefferson, another standout from the 2020 draft class, also came into the week in the mix with 561 career catches.
After hauling in six passes in the Vikings’ 16-13 win over the Giants, Jefferson now sits at 567.
So, the race is on. With two weeks left, Lamb has a shot to finish as the all-time receptions leader through six seasons - but he’ll need to outpace Jefferson down the stretch to get there.
It’s not the ending Cowboys fans had hoped for this season, but CeeDee Lamb’s continued rise is a silver lining - and a reminder that while the team may be out of the playoff hunt, one of its brightest stars is still making history.