Strategic Moves or Punishments?

The Dallas Cowboys made headlines on Monday night as they chose to bench two of their top wide receivers, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, during the opening drive against the Las Vegas Raiders. According to ESPN's Lisa Salters, the decision was made by the coaching staff and was not due to any injuries.

Both players joined the game on the Cowboys' second drive after being sidelined for the first. Salters reported that Lamb and Pickens were benched because they "missed some things" prior to the start of the game. Upon inquiring whether this decision was a form of punishment, the Cowboys' PR team redirected the question to the coaching staff.

Offensive Struggles Amid Talent

Despite their absence at the start, the Cowboys surely could have benefited from their contributions, as they faced an early setback by going three-and-out on their opening possession before punting to the Raiders. The duo of Lamb and Pickens has been one of the most formidable wide receiver pairings in the NFL this season. Lamb has amassed 491 receiving yards and a touchdown over six games, while Pickens, who joined the Cowboys after a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has accumulated 764 yards and six touchdowns, ranking him among the top wide receivers this year.

Thanks to their efforts, Dallas has been generating the third-most yards (378.4) and points (29.2) per game in the league. However, despite their offensive prowess, the Cowboys’ record stands at an underwhelming 3-5-1, primarily attributable to ongoing defensive challenges. With a playoff berth hanging in the balance, the importance of securing a victory over the Raiders was underscored as the Cowboys eyed the postseason.