The Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders meet Sunday in a critical NFC East showdown at AT&T Stadium. Dallas is 2-3-1, third in the division, and needs a win to stay in the playoff conversation. Their defense has allowed the second-most points (30.7 PPG) in the league, and while their running game has been solid overall, it managed just 31 rushing yards in their Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
For a team searching for answers, the solution is finally ready to return.
CeeDee Lamb: The Cowboys' ultimate X-factor
CeeDee Lamb is back after missing three games with a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 3 against Chicago. The All-Pro receiver practiced in limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday, and by all accounts, he looks ready to suit up Sunday.
Lamb spoke confidently about his return when he addressed the media on Thursday, confirming he's ready to go against Washington. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer showed equal enthusiasm about getting his top receiver back on the field.
The numbers show why Schottenheimer is excited to have his top weapon back. Before the injury, Lamb caught 16 passes for 222 yards in three games and topped 100 yards in both contests where he played all four quarters.
What makes Lamb so valuable goes beyond the stats, though. He can beat defenses anywhere on the field with short routes, deep routes, or contested catches in traffic. It doesn't matter where defenses try to stop him because they have to dedicate extra attention to him on every snap, which opens up opportunities for everyone else. That's the real X-factor here, as his presence changes the entire defensive game plan before the ball is even snapped.
How Lamb's return transforms the offense
George Pickens has been excellent in Lamb's absence, catching nine passes for 168 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers in Week 6 while racking up touchdowns in five straight games and ranking fourth in the league with 525 receiving yards. But Pickens's thriving makes Lamb's return even more dangerous because defenses face a difficult choice now.
Double Lamb underneath, and Pickens wins deep, but focus on Pickens over the top, and Lamb works the intermediate routes. Try zone coverage, and both receivers find the soft spots while Dak Prescott picks the defense apart, which is what makes Lamb the true X-factor. He doesn't just put up numbers but forces defenses into decisions they can't win, making everyone on the offense better in the process.
Tight end Jake Ferguson gets cleaner looks when Lamb draws safety help, and running lanes open when defenses can't stack the box. His presence impacts every aspect of the offense, which explains why Dallas struggled so much without him these past three weeks.
CeeDee Lamb faces ankle injury test against the Commanders
For all the optimism around Lamb's return, he still has to prove he's fully healthy against a solid Washington secondary. The Commanders have been effective in coverage this season and will have a specific game plan for the Cowboys' star receiver. Lamb needs to shake off any rust quickly because Washington won't make things easy for him.
The ankle injury remains his biggest question mark. High ankle sprains are tricky for receivers who rely on quick cuts and sharp plants. Lamb insists he's ready and the medical staff has cleared him, but Sunday will reveal whether he trusts that ankle completely. If he's not moving at full speed or hesitates on his cuts, it could disrupt the precise timing he's built with Prescott over the years.
Washington's own injury situation could work in Lamb's favor, though. Terry McLaurin has missed the last three games with a quad injury and won't play Sunday. Without their top receiver, the Commanders' secondary has less depth to deal with both Lamb and Pickens. That matchup advantage could be the difference in a close divisional game.
The stakes for this game go beyond just one win. Dallas trails Philadelphia by 1.5 games in the NFC East, and the Eagles aren't exactly playing their best football right now. A loss would drop the Cowboys to 2-4-1 and put them three games back with 11 games to play. That's a steep hill to climb. A win keeps them within striking distance and gives the team momentum heading into the second half of the season.
Why CeeDee Lamb determines the Cowboys' playoff hopes
Lamb's return won't magically fix the Cowboys' defensive issues or suddenly make their running game effective. Those problems still need real solutions. But a high-powered offense can cover up many weaknesses, at least in the short term.
Sunday will answer the most important questions. Can Lamb move the way he did before the injury? Does he trust that ankle when making sharp cuts? Will the timing with Prescott click right away, or will it take a few series to sync up? His practice work and comments suggest he's ready, but game speed tells the real story.
If Lamb looks like himself, the Cowboys have a real shot to turn this season around starting Sunday. If the ankle limits him or the rust shows up at the wrong moments, Dallas's margin for error disappears completely. The path forward runs directly through their All-Pro receiver, which is why he's the ultimate X-factor in this NFC East showdown.
