TL;DR
- George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb benched for opening series against Raiders.
- Pickens dominated Raiders with 144 yards and touchdown after being benched.
- Dak Prescott praised Pickens' talent but stressed need for self-control.
- Discussion continues on whether Pickens or Lamb is the Cowboys' top receiver.
Dallas Cowboys star receiver George Pickens, like All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, was surprisingly benched for the opening series against the Las Vegas Raiders by Brian Schottenheimer.
Citing the pair "missed some things," Schottenheimer pulled his two best weapons and forced them to watch the offense go three-and-out on the first drive.
However, after the duo entered the game, they demolished Las Vegas, especially Pickens, who dominated the defense with 144 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while Lamb gained 66 yards and scored a touchdown himself.
Dak Prescott, who tossed four touchdowns to four separate pass-catchers, expressed his admiration for George's style of play, yet emphasized that the disciplinary aspect of recent events necessitates an appropriate equilibrium for the receiver.
"He's a unique individual," Prescott said with a smile. "A special player, top-tier, with a strong intuition for the sport, a passion for it, and he plays with youthful enthusiasm. Observing his game, the spirit, the exultations, are infectious. That's one aspect, but the self-control, you see, that's something we all need to improve upon, and GP is aware of this.
His response was evident in his performance, the intensity he displayed, and the sheer effort he put forth. He's truly a remarkable person, though there's a delicate equilibrium involved.
More: Cowboys' George Pickens earns incredible comparison to top-5 all-time WR for a very specific reason
Pickens: Dallas' top WR?
After Monday night's performance, and in fact, his performance as a whole this season, there are some who think so.
And let's not forget Lamb is an All-Pro in his own right.
While I haven't reached that point, Pickens has clearly forged a strong bond with Prescott, and he's poised for his most successful NFL season to date. It's true that Lamb has been instrumental in this, drawing defensive attention away from George.
But also, Pickens stepped up when Lamb was injured, so he has proven he can carry the offense.
Regarding who the Cowboys' actual top receiver is, that's a significant topic of discussion. At this moment, I'd be content with either option, and Dallas is fortunate to possess two legitimate No. 1 offensive threats to utilize.
More Cowboys news:
- Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and Raiders wide receiver George Pickens were sidelined for the initial drive of Monday Night Football against the Raiders.
- Cowboys honor Marshawn Kneeland with T-shirts, locker ahead of Raiders game
- Cowboys dominate Raiders in final score and results, marking their first game following Marshawn Kneeland's passing.
- Dak Prescott stats: Cowboys QB throws four touchdowns in blowout win over Raiders