Why did the Cowboys struggle to get CeeDee Lamb involved in the second half?

With less than four minutes to play last Sunday night in Pittsburgh, Dak Prescott threw to his left for a nine-yard completion by CeeDee Lamb. It was the fourth game of a 15-game winning streak for the Dallas Cowboys.

It was also the only reception the Cowboys' star wide receiver received in the fourth quarter this season.

Through the first five weeks, Lamb has rushed for 1,285 yards and seven touchdowns. A banner year for most, but not for the NFL's second-highest paid non-quarterback, who finished last year with 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His stats in the first half were great. It's the third and fourth quarters where teams have successfully taken it away.

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“What happens is we get eliminated early, and obviously nobody wants to see that in the second half of the game, so they do a great job of adjusting at halftime and bringing in two (defenders),” Lamb said Thursday. “Nine times out of 10 I get clouds (coverage). Kudos to her. They do a great job of stopping the bleeding. But we’re still winning, so it’s cool.”

Lamb said he's seeing significantly more of that extra coverage than he did last season while also earning first-team All-Pro honors.

“But it’s still cool,” he added. “I have to find different ways to be effective in the game. I understand that. And I will.”

There hasn't been a bigger game in Lamb's last four seasons than the one he played last December against the Detroit Lions, which the Cowboys host on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium. Lamb caught 13 of Prescott's 17 hits for 227 yards and a touchdown, helping Dallas win 20-19. Late in the first quarter of the game, Prescott was nearly sacked for a safety in the end zone, but fought his way out and found Lamb racing down the middle of the field. That connection ended with a 92-yard touchdown.

When Dak Prescott was asked about the teams playing the Lions the following week remaining winless, he said: “We say goodbye. So we’re going to get this win, enjoy the farewell and figure it out afterward.” pic.twitter.com/vUF5vUPXeo

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 10, 2024

“That felt good,” Prescott said. “It's been a long time. I would love to get into a groove like that with him again. What a great opportunity we have to try to get that connection going again. It's a defense we're familiar with. … They're definitely going to try to take him away, especially looking back at this game. You see the numbers he was able to produce.

“We have different options to keep the ball quiet for him and we’re just confident in what he can do. But it would be great to find a rhythm like that again. And when you’re in a rhythm like that with an elite receiver, it’s a rare feeling.”

CeeDee Lamb confirmed that in Sunday night's sideline video he said to Dak Prescott, “Jump balls, four.” Jump balls and I got you.” pic.twitter.com/q4OzEN1sh0

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 10, 2024

“You can’t read lips to save your life,” Prescott joked. “That was honestly weird. To look at social media after the game or whatever and say CeeDee had words for me, I'm like, 'When?' I think CeeDee said it best: This guy is my brother. We have very high expectations of each other.

“I just made a stupid split second decision. It's unfortunate that you can't do this when you have the ball in your hand every time you play. Just another example of you trying to make something out of nothing.”

The Cowboys have their bye week after Sunday's game against Detroit. Given all her injuries, it comes at a good time. But depending on what happens against the Lions, it could be the ideal time for the offense to restart and find ways to get Lamb more involved in the second half. He had over 150 yards in each of the three games following the Cowboys' bye week last season.

“When my time comes,” Lamb said, “you best believe it will be big.”