[Baltimore Sun] Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb takes blame for actions in loss to Ravens: ‘Very detrimental’
Read Time:4 Minute, 27 Second
FRISCO, Texas — CeeDee Lamb took the blame for everything.
He owned the end zone tantrum, loud chats with teammates and coaches and his poor performance.
After skipping out on speaking with the media following the Cowboys’ loss to the Ravens on Sunday, Lamb discussed everything two days later.
“Honestly I got to be truthful to myself and I played a part in that loss,” he said. “A big part honestly, and nor did my body language nor attitude, approaching the situation help the situation or the outcome of the game.
Lamb added of his actions, “Very detrimental. Detrimental and yeah, I’ll make up for it.”
Lamb is normally a smooth operator on the field. It’s the reason why the Cowboys signed him to one of the richest contracts in NFL history at the receiver position. But the first three weeks of the season have been turbulent.
Out of 24 targets, he’s got 13 catches and one touchdown. Last season he caught a career-high 74.% of passes directed toward him.
The offensive issues Lamb faced came to a head against the Ravens.
In a moment telling of that 28-25 loss, Prescott misfired on a potential touchdown pass to Lamb in the end zone, but a pass interference call was negated by an offsetting holding penalty. Lamb sat in the end zone yelling and slapping both hands to the turf.
He later arrived on the sidelines and had a loud discussion with Prescott and anyone else nearby. You could tell he was frustrated. Maybe the contract was getting to him. Maybe the pressures of trying to find a flow within an offense he didn’t work in during training camp because of his contract holdout was rearing its ugly head.
He finished the game with two drops, a false start and four catches for 67 yards. He also fumbled in the red zone.
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb fumbles the ball after being hit by Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins in the first half Sunday in Arlington, Texas. (Gareth Patterson/AP)
“You got to start with the man in the mirror and I’m a huge believer in that,” Lamb said. “And watching that game kind of pissed me off, but I did that. I can’t get mad at nobody else. So with that being said, I’ve learned.”
The Cowboys have gone through this with Lamb, most recently last season. After four weeks, Lamb had 23 catches for 309 yards with a touchdown. He caught 76.7% of his passes. Those numbers look so much better than what he’s producing now.
And Lamb wasn’t happy about it then. The next week at San Francisco, Lamb caught four passes for 49 yards and no touchdowns in a 42-10 loss. Lamb went off.
After the 49ers game, receiver Brandin Cooks became Lamb’s consigliere. Cooks understood then Lamb was playing for a huge contract and poor performances hamper that. The two talked about getting on the same page with Prescott and coach Mike McCarthy, in his first year with this team as the playcaller.
Over the next eight games, Lamb had 69 catches for 859 yards and seven touchdowns. Lamb’s confidence soared along and everyone forgot about that sorry performance against the 49ers.
On Thursday night, the Cowboys visit the New York Giants and Lamb has to respond in a similar fashion.
“I plan on doing it again,” he said.
The problem with doing it again isn’t so much what defenses are doing to Lamb, it’s finding a rhythm with Prescott.
QB1 wasn’t available to tell his side of the story because team officials elected to have him speak after the Giants game.
Related Articles
Ravens OLB Odafe Oweh’s $20,500 fine for unnecessary roughness in Chiefs game rescinded
NFL winners and losers, Week 3: That’s the Derrick Henry the Ravens wanted
The Ravens nearly collapsed again. Here’s coach John Harbaugh’s explanation.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on Dak Prescott’s illegal pass: ‘It would’ve been a safety if I did that’
Yannick Ngakoue signing with Ravens’ practice squad to help bolster pass rush
McCarthy has turned Lamb into an elite receiver that takes over games. But it’s something we haven’t seen in the early stages of the season.
“CeeDee is a primary focal point for us game planning and it’ll be a primary focal point for the defense,” McCarthy said. “That’s why you play the game. We’ll continue to do what we have done with him. There’s always little things you’re looking to build on, certain routes and so forth.”
The Cowboys can line Lamb up in the backfield, use him on Jet Sweeps, line him up in three receiver spots. When he’s on the field and used properly his talent is unmatched.
After three weeks, he hasn’t shown it.
“Granted, it was a bad game on my end. I fully take accountability in that,” he said. “I have no shame in that. So with that being said, I will be better in the future and it’s going to be fun.”
____
©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0