CeeDee Lamb making Cowboys history would be perfect capper to dominant 2022

The Dallas Cowboys will forever be questioned for their decision to trade Amari Cooper because they didn’t want to fulfill his contract. Of course, that frustration has nothing to do with CeeDee Lamb’s performance this season.

At the time, though, folks questioned whether Lamb could establish himself as an elite receiver. There are only 10 or so legitimate No. 1 WRs and there were doubts about Lamb’s ability to fill Cooper’s shoes as the team’s go-to target.

With one game left to play in 2022, Lamb is surely laughing at his doubters.

While he may not be in the Justin Jefferson/Davante Adams/Cooper Kupp tier of receivers, Lamb is firmly entrenched as a bonafide No. 1 option, and there’s nothing to suggest he can’t reach greater heights if he gets more help. The hope is Michael Gallup will become that guy once he’s farther removed from ACL surgery.

Lamb hit a little bit of a lull in the middle of the season, but he’s been utterly dominant in Dallas’ last three games. This stretch has the 23-year-old positioned to etch his name in Cowboys history in Week 18 against the Commanders.

CeeDee Lamb could make Cowboys history in Week 18 vs Commanders

Entering the final week, Lamb’s logged 102 receptions on the season. That puts him third in Cowboys history behind Michael Irvin’s 111 and Jason Witten’s 110. Quick side note: put some more respect on Witten’s name!

Getting back to the matter at hand, Lamb needs just nine catches to tie Irvin’s landmark, and 10 receptions to surpass the Hall of Famer.

Incredibly, 10 catches has become routine for Lamb. He’s compiled back-to-back games with 10 grabs. If you noticed, Lamb’s production really took off once the Odell Beckham Jr. rumors started. The heavily-covered (some would say exhausting) pursuit of Beckham seemed to light a fire under the two-time Pro Bowler, because he’s racked up some incredible numbers over the last six contests.

Here’s what Lamb’s done in the last three games:

• Week 15 vs Jaguars: 7 catches (on 7 targets) for 126 yards
• Week 16 vs Eagles: 10 catches (on 11 targets) for 120 yards and 2 TDs
• Week 17 vs Titans: 11 catches (on 14 targets) for 100 yards

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For those counting, Justin Jefferson and Tyreek Hill are the only wideouts with more catches than Lamb this season (102). Further, the former Oklahoma star ranks seventh at the position in yards (1,307), tied for sixth in touchdowns (8), and fourth in first downs (65).

With those numbers in mind, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Lamb is Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 graded receiver since Week 2.

Lamb will have to reboot in 2023 and beyond to have a crack at the Cowboys’ single-season receiving yards record (Irvin’s first and second with 1,603 and 1,523), but Lamb could climb as high as No. 3 behind Irvin with just 89 yards against Washington’s banged up secondary.

At the rate Lamb is feasting on defenses, we’re not betting against him to rack up another 10 catches and break Irvin’s long-standing record.

3 Cowboys with everything to gain from 2022 season finale

The Cowboys can potentially claim the No. 1 seed and the NFC East in the 2022 finale. These players, in particular, have everything to gain from the game.