The Dallas Cowboys rolled into Week 14 riding a hot streak, but that momentum came to a screeching halt Thursday night in Detroit. The Lions, behind one of the most explosive offenses in the league, lit up the scoreboard in a 44-30 win that sent a clear message: they’re not just playoff contenders - they’re a problem.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t about the Cowboys’ offense falling flat. They moved the ball and put up points.
But when you’re facing a team like Detroit that can score in bunches - and your defense can’t get stops - your offense has to be nearly flawless. And on this night, it wasn’t.
The biggest blow came early, when star wideout CeeDee Lamb exited with a concussion. That loss was felt immediately. Without Lamb stretching the field and commanding attention, the Cowboys leaned more heavily on George Pickens - and it just wasn’t his night.
Pickens finished with five catches for 37 yards, but the stat line doesn’t tell the full story. His performance was uneven at best, with effort that seemed to waver as the game wore on. One particularly costly moment came early in the second half, when he appeared to ease up on a route that ended in an interception - a play that drew sharp criticism postgame, including from former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, who didn’t hold back.
This isn’t the first time questions about Pickens’ effort have surfaced - that was a recurring issue during his time in Pittsburgh - but this is the first real instance of it showing up since he joined Dallas. And it came at a bad time.
Still, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t hitting the panic button. Speaking Friday, Jones downplayed concerns about Pickens’ effort.
“I would be very careful going there,” Jones said. “I don’t think so much it was effort, but I don’t necessarily have a good explanation to why he didn’t show up more. I’m not at all concerned going forward.”
That’s a public vote of confidence in a player who’s been a key part of the offense this season - and who will need to be even more so now. With Dallas sitting at 6-6-1 and the playoff picture tightening, the margin for error is razor-thin. They’ll likely need to win out over the final four games to have a real shot at the postseason.
And with Lamb potentially sidelined, Pickens is going to have to step into a bigger role. There’s no room for another off night - especially not with the stakes this high.
The good news? Pickens has shown throughout the year that he can be a difference-maker.
Now, the Cowboys need him to be just that - consistently, and immediately.
The road ahead won’t be easy, but it’s clear: if Dallas wants to stay in the playoff hunt, it starts with getting the most out of the guys still standing. That means George Pickens has to bounce back - and fast.