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Todd Archer, ESPN staff writer
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have a short week ahead of their Thursday night game against the New York Giants, but there's a lot they need to turn around after back-to-back losses the last few days.
All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb did not speak to reporters following Sunday's home loss to the Baltimore Ravens, in which he lost a fumble and dropped a pass and had a sideline argument with quarterback Dak Prescott.
On Tuesday, he apologized for his performance and the way he handled himself on the sideline, saying he played a “big role” in Sunday's loss. He also acknowledged that his body language and attitude “didn't help the situation or the outcome of the game.”
“Being professional about the whole situation. Understanding that it's a long game,” said Lamb, who had four catches for 67 yards against the Ravens. “But as far as me and my performance, I expect a lot out of myself, more than anybody could expect of me. And, honestly, I failed myself. And obviously, I failed the team, as far as being a game-breaking player for the team and, obviously, being the guy that they can rely on.”
“And, yeah, I let the game get to my head a little bit. But at the same time, I know what I can do. I know what I bring to the table, and I know what I can do on that field. So, with that being said, moving forward, there will be a difference.”
Lamb did not attempt to hold onto his contract to not attend training camp on Sunday.
“There's no excuse for that. I've played football all my life. I know better,” he said.
As for Prescott, he said his relationship with Lamb is as good as it has ever been. However, Prescott did not speak to the media on Tuesday, which may have been the first time in his tenure as a starter.
“Our relationship, if anything, [has] “He's gotten stronger,” Lamb said. “Don't let that fool you. We're brothers to the end. We know we have everything we have, and I give him my respect. I have the utmost respect for him, and I look up to him as a brother. So, with that being said, everything's going to come out: the energy, the passion, the love, the fight. You'll get through it all in the end.”
Last year against the San Francisco 49ers, Lamb held his own for the most part during a 42-10 loss. After that, he had seven 100-yard receiving games and six games with at least 11 catches and set a team record in the final 11 games.
“I plan on doing it again,” Lamb said.
Defensively, the Cowboys plan to not let the Giants overwhelm them, as the New Orleans Saints (190 yards) and Ravens (274 yards) did in the past two contests.
Asked if the defense has gotten the message to play fundamentally sound, All-Pro edge player Micah Parsons said, “I mean, everybody says that, but still, we'll have to see what happens.”
Parsons said, “I think as a competitor, at some point you have to have enough pride to say, 'Hey, I'm not going to let that happen to me.'” “I think some people are just allowing them to get slapped in the face. When are you going to stand up?”
At 1-2, the Cowboys have reached a crucial juncture in their season.
“I would love to get hit in the head now, because when you fail, what do you do? You have to get back up, and I think that makes for a great locker room atmosphere and team atmosphere, right?
,[If] We fail, we fail. OK. We know how it feels. You can only rise up. We can only rise up from here, right? So, when I said we're down, what do you do from the bottom? You climb up, but you have to be willing to climb.”