After last week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy called for more of his wide receivers to step up as CeeDee Lamb continued to carry the load for the group.
McCarthy specifically mentioned Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks as players who should be more involved in the offense, and Cooks stepped up with nine catches for 173 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 49-17 blowout win over the New York Giants, by far his best in a Cowboys’ uniform.
“Just fortunate enough to come out here and get that win and have a productive day to help my team win,” Cooks told members of the media postgame. “… The ball came my way. I just wanted to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that I had tonight.”
The Cowboys acquired Cooks from the Houston Texans in exchange for two draft picks in April. He was expected to bring a unique speed factor to the offense yet seemed like an afterthought through the first nine weeks, on pace for career lows in production. Still, he knew he just had to stay ready and seize the moment when the opportunity came.
“I always tell the other guys, ‘Trust the process,'” he said. “When your number’s called, be able to take advantage of your opportunities because when the ball comes your way, and it’s going to come, just go out there and make a play.”
His teammates have been waiting for this type of performance and believe it can take the offense to a new level.
“That was long overdue for Brandin,” Lamb told the media. “I couldn’t wait to celebrate with him enough. He deserved 200 [yards], but week in and week out, we go in, and we deal with a lot of goods and bads, and in the film room, we know we can always be better. We put out a display of our own, and it looked good. We’ve got to do it again next week.”
“In this league, you understand that people are always trying to take away what you do best,” quarterback Dak Prescott added, “but when those guys go out there and perform like they did, I don’t know what a defense does.”
Lamb continued his great season with 151 yards and two touchdowns (one receiving and one rushing) on Sunday and became the first player in NFL history to with at least 10 catches and 150 yards in three consecutive games.
“It’s all a part of the process,” Lamb explained. “I trust in the process and believe in myself and my ability and my teammates. We’re going to go in and play the game that we can play, complementary football. Defense will get us the ball, and offense, let’s go, and I’ll lead the way.”
With Lamb leading the way and Cooks looking to build off Sunday’s performance, the Cowboys offense could be hitting its stride at the perfect time.
“Everything’s really coming together,” Prescott said after Sunday’s win. “This is about us hitting our stride at the right time and just trying to grow. We’re going to do that. We’re going to make sure that doesn’t stop. We’re not satisfied with this; I promise you that.”
