Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb could set multiple franchise records on Saturday night against Detroit
Saturday could be a banner night for CeeDee Lamb.
The most important thing on Saturday night is that the Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions. A win keeps Dallas alive in the NFC East and, thanks to what would be a victory over the Lions specifically, for the #2 seed in the conference. Given that Dallas is a much better team at home than on the road, the more games that they can play at AT&T stadium, especially if it is two that separates them from the conference championship game, the better.
But there are a number of things also on the line on Saturday night even if they are lower than an overall priority. We are in the penultimate week of the regular season which means that things like records are within sight for some, and after the season that CeeDee Lamb has had, there are two that can see him approaching very quickly in the rearview mirror.
CeeDee Lamb has a chance to set multiple franchise records on Saturday night
It feels impossible that anyone would not be aware of the fact that Lamb has been on an absolute tear throughout the 2023 season. Even that might be underselling it.
We are only 15 games through the campaign and Lamb has already set career highs in several categories:
- Receptions
- Receiving yards
- Receiving touchdowns (currently tied for his career high)
- Catch percentage (subject to change)
- Yards per target (subject to change)
- Rushing attempts
- Rushing yards
- Rushing touchdowns
Given that Lamb had already had some prolific seasons for the Cowboys to this point, the fact that he has outdone all of them is pretty impressive, but accomplishing a career high is something you are doing measured only against yourself.
Obviously Lamb plays for an organization rich in history, and if he or anyone ever forgets that, we needn’t look further than the number that he wears. He has a long way to go if he wants to be even the best receiver to ever wear the number 88, but he is on the verge of surpassing them all in terms of single-season accomplishments.
Entering the penultimate week of the regular season CeeDee Lamb is sitting on 109 receptions and 1,424 yards. These both rank third in terms of single-season Dallas Cowboys franchise records.
Most receptions in a single season in Dallas Cowboys franchise history
- Michael Irvin (1995)..................... 111
- Jason Witten (2012)..................... 110
- CeeDee Lamb (present).............. 109
Most receiving yards in a single season in Dallas Cowboys franchise history
- Michael Irvin (1995)..................... 1,603
- Michael Irvin (1991)...................... 1,523
- CeeDee Lamb (present).............. 1,424
It stands to reason that CeeDee will break the single-season receptions record on Saturday night given that he needs three to do it and has finished with no fewer than four receptions in a game this season. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but you can feel confident in going out on this limb.
Obviously it is more ambitious to suggest that Lamb could take ownership of the single-season receiving yardage record on Jimmy Johnson’s night as he is 180 yards away from having it all to himself. That is a pretty tall order, even for someone as talented as him.
For what it is worth though, Lamb has reached 180 yards in a single game before, but only one time in his career. Incidentally it was earlier this season at Philadelphia when Lamb hauled in 11 receptions for 191 yards.
And while the conversation this week has been about the Lions passing defense and how porous it is (they rank 16th in DVOA there specifically) they have not allowed a single receiver to have even 179 yards in a single game this season. That is the amount needed for Lamb to tie the record. While Detroit has not allowed that in a single game this season, they did allow at least 179 yards in a contest twice in both 2021 and 2022 under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (our old friend).
If Lamb were to fall short of the yardage record and the Cowboys were to lose this game, then it would be fair to wonder whether or not he would get enough opportunities in the regular-season finale to do it (obviously that would partly be contingent on how much yardage he had in the game). A Cowboys loss could set the team up to rest starters next week in preparation of a road playoff game the following week as the conference’s top Wild Card team. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.
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