Alex Smith drops George Pickens truth bomb every Cowboys fan needs to hear

The Dallas Cowboys are under the microscope perhaps more than any team in the NFL. Comes with the territory when you have an outspoken owner like Jerry Jones and the most valuable franchise in major sports.

That's even more so the case when you're a superstar wide receiver with a bit of a diva reputation. Such a cocktail combines to create the perfect storm around George Pickens.

Dallas' breakout playmaker has made the most of his change of scenery from Pittsburgh. However, after the Cowboys lost 44-30 to the Lions this past Thursday night, Pickens' effort on the gridiron sparked heated debates everywhere.

Despite still being the NFL's third-leading receiver, Week 14's pedestrian stat line of five catches for 37 yards on nine targets was below the standard Pickens has set in 2025. At least one prominent NFL analyst has come rushing to his defense — and for good reason.

Former NFL QB Alex Smith blasts critics who suggest George Pickens has a loafing problem

Alex Smith's competitive juices for professional football are still flowing. Although his career wasn't what it could've been due to a catastrophic leg injury, Smith is still very much in the mix on everything NFL whilst working for ESPN.

In an era where debate shows feel more like bloated, bloviating performance art, the expertise Smith brings as a long-tenured quarterback gives his insight a level of detail and nuance lacking in other panelists.

So it comes as little surprise that Smith dissected the Cowboys' Pickens drama with such aplomb. Smith's primary contention was that Pickens drew the most attention among Dallas' pass-catchers against the Lions, freeing up the likes of fellow stud wideout CeeDee Lamb and even Ryan Flournoy to flourish:

"I think we're making a lot out of nothing. This guy got doubled all game, and when I mean double, I mean cloud. A corner hard inside at the line of scrimmage, safety over the top. […] CeeDee Lamb? There's a reason he got so many targets in that first half. There was no help with him. It was it was man-on-man with no help for him all day. There's a reason Ryan Flournoy got all those targets in the second half."

Smith's colleague and ex-Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi pressed him, and asked whether all it took was rolling coverage Pickens' way to break his implicit competitive spirit. Although Smith acknowledged some weirdness, he argued that Pickens still served his role as an effective, de facto decoy in the process.

"Listen, there were some there were a couple of plays that were funny and weird scenarios. [...] We only looked at his targets and catches and numbers, but listen, this guy got everybody open. He's running post, taking two, and they're hitting deep crosses under it."

The reality is, everyone has an off game. Or opponents do everything in their power to make sure a certain player doesn't beat them.

They should've had Rex Ryan chime in on that reality of football on the ESPN set. He shared a division with Bill Belichick and watched The Hoodie do that time and again for New England. Bruschi was a pivotal part of such game plans en route to winning three Super Bowls with the Pats.

If Thursday was an "off" game for Pickens, well, as Smith nails in his well-conceived take, he still made a major impact.

Lamb racked up six catches for 121 yards, while Flournoy had nine receptions for 115 yards and a TD. Dak Prescott threw for 371 yards, and two interceptions. One of those was a target to Flournoy where he got sandwiched between defenders and lost the ball. the other was toward Pickens on a slant.

Yes, Dan Campbell works in mysterious ways and manifested this takeaway. But can you really put this on Pickens? Credit where it's due. The Lions made a heck of a play. It happens!

Dallas' passing attack still produced at a prolific clip. It was their previously-surging defense that let the Cowboys down more than anything else. Their deep group of pass rushers couldn't capitalize on a dinged-up Detroit offensive line, sacking the statuesque Jared Goff only once.

Anyway, Alex Smith is bang-on here. Look for Pickens to use the mini-bye to reset, refresh his body, and be ready to ball out against the Vikings in Week 15.