Dak Prescott has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over the last several years. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year took his game to another level once the Dallas Cowboys traded for Wide Receiver Amari Cooper around midseason in 2018. He also got Michael Gallup that season as a No. 2 option. In 2019, Prescott spread the wealth, and Cooper and Gallup both had 1,100-yard campaigns.
That chemistry continued in 2020. Although Prescott only appeared in five games due to a season-ending ankle injury, Cooper and Gallup were on pace for 1,000-yard seasons again, but they weren't the only ones. CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys' first-round pick last season, was also on pace for 1,000 yards. Fast forward to this season, Lamb's connection with Prescott has continued to flourish.
Lamb is currently the Cowboys leader in targets (49), receptions (33), and yards (497) and he's also tied with Cooper for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns. In the first six games of this season, Lamb is seventh in the NFL in receiving yards, making him a huge reason why Prescott ranks fifth in passing yards (1,813).
Prescott and Lamb have played in 11 games together going back to last season. Lamb has 62 receptions for 930 yards and six touchdowns over that span while averaging 15 yards per reception. Over a 17 game season, that's 96 receptions for 1,437 yards and nine touchdowns. What makes this amazing is that Lamb is considered the Cowboys' No. 3 option when Gallup is healthy, although he's now challenging to be the top threat in the Cowboys' passing game.
Not only have Prescott and Lamb built an incredible connection, but they are also hooking up for big plays in key moments. In the Cowboys wild Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons last season, Prescott found Lamb for a big gain with just over 90 seconds to play that eventually led to a game-winning field goal.
Fun fact: @_CeeDeeThree's 106 receiving yards against the #Falcons tied Bob Hayes' 12/05/65 game against the #Eagles for the 18th-most most by a #Cowboys rookie in a single game.pic.twitter.com/jgaJrinr3g
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) September 21, 2020
This past Sunday against the New England Patriots, Prescott and Lamb were up to their late-game heroics again. With about 30 seconds left, the Cowboys were down three and facing a 3rd and 25. Prescott found Lamb for a huge 24-yard gain down to the Patriots' 31-yard line which set up Greg Zuerlein's game-tying 49-yard field goal which sent the game into overtime. Once the Patriots failed to score on the opening position of the extra period, the Cowboys methodically drove the ball down the field. Prescott would find Lamb for a 35-yard walk-off touchdown to improve the Cowboys record to 5-1 on the season.
Dak to CeeDee. Here come the #DallasCowboys
📺: #DALvsNE on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/XbghTuxMwN— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021
DAK TO CEEDEE FOR THE WIN IN NEW ENGLAND. #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/kh34E4rPsU
— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Prescott suffered a right calf strain against the Patriots but it's not expected to force him to miss time. After the game, Lamb told Prescott that he loved him and praised him for what he's done for the second-year receiver.
“I told him right after the game, on the field and in the locker room,” Lamb said. “I'm just gonna keep reminding him because you know, last year wasn't like this.”
There are still 11 games to go in the 2021 season which gives Prescott and Lamb plenty of time to take their chemistry to another level and make the Cowboys' offense even more lethal than it already is.
