The Dallas Cowboys played the role of Grinch to a tee in their 26-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium, with receiver CeeDee Lamb again showing he's playing through the pain barrier with his AC joint injury.
Lamb and Cooper Rush connected for a 52-yard pass in the second quarter, but CeeDee fell directly onto his right shoulder, and No. 88, who is normally one to get up and shake it off, stayed down and was barely seen for the rest of the game.
CeeDee had six catches for 100 yards in the first half but had just one more for five yards in the entire second half, and admits his shoulder isn't right.
"My shoulder's out of whack, I'm not even going to lie to you," Lamb said. "I'm just out there battling and do what I do. It's not fun."
But that's been Lamb's mentality for over a month, and he is leading by example. ... in this game registering his 100th catch of the season.
The win over the Buccaneers makes it four wins in five for Mike McCarthy's team. Some weren't expecting Sunday night's performance, given that the Washington Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles, officially eliminating Dallas from playoff contention earlier in the day.
But it didn't seem to matter as the Cowboys came out, played hard, physical, and wanted blood, despite having nothing to play for.
"Great to see, obviously the grit we going through, the situation that we in," Lamb said. "As for us, we're showing gratitude to the game and showing how much we love and appreciate everything and every opportunity that we get, and going out there and playing our (expletive) off."
So while the Cowboys continue their late-season resurgence, Lamb, who is clearly battling his shoulder injury, appears to be getting harder for the All-Pro to fight through it.
But one thing is for certain: he isn't going to wave the white flag now.
