Stacy Revere/Getty

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 28: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on before the game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

There were just 54 seconds left in the second quarter. The Dallas Cowboys were down 13-2 and were in the middle of a drive taking over five minutes of game time, marching down the field in an attempt to gain some momentum before the half.

It was first and ten. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott had just completed a short pass to WR George Pickens for a first down to set Dallas up at the Packers’ 29-yard line. And Green Bay was showing a look they hadn’t all game.

“Please press this,” someone on the Cowboys’ sideline could be heard saying over WR CeeDee Lamb‘s mic. The broadcast had mic’d up Lamb, who was out with a high-ankle sprain, on the sideline. A video shared by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report showed the Cowboys sideline in tense excitement over the opportunity the defense presented.

“Oh, he’s good,” Lamb said as he surveyed the field pre-snap. “It’s good.”

“He pressed, dawg,” that same voice told Lamb. “He pressed.”

“Oh it’s good, it’s good!” Lamb screamed. “Touchdown, touchdown! Touchdown, touchdown! Touchdown! Come on, 3 [Pickens’ jersey number], 30 yard touchdown. 29. Come on.”

The ball was snapped, and Prescott threw it deep down the left sideline for Pickens, who made a fantastic contested catch over two Packers defenders, staying in bounds to put the ball at the one-yard line.

“You called it, CeeDee!” someone shouted as the Dallas sideline erupted. Lamb could be seen dancing and jumping around with the rest of the bench, celebrating the huge play Pickens made. Two plays later, Prescott would take it in himself to put the Cowboys’ first touchdown on the board.

Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens Stepped Up in a Big Way

Sam Hodde/GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 28: Xavier McKinney #29 of the Green Bay Packers tackles George Pickens #3 of the Dallas Cowboys in the end zone allowing a touchdown during the fourth quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

When Lamb suffered his high-ankle sprain early in last week’s loss to the Bears, Pickens needed to step up his game for this offense to be functional. He ended the day with five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, which is a respectable day. But the Cowboys needed more.

He delivered in massive fashion against the Packers. Pickens had eight receptions for 134 yards and two touchdown on Sunday night, making big play after big play when Dallas needed them most. Whenever the Cowboys needed a critical conversion in a key moment or a chunk play to jump-start the offense, they went to Pickens.

With the Steelers last year, Pickens was their entire passing attack. In Dallas, he was supposed to be a complementary piece to Lamb, one of the best receivers in the NFL. Until Lamb returns, however, this offense will run through Pickens. He proved Sunday that he can handle it.

No One Wanted a Tie, but the Dallas Cowboys Still Showed a Lot of Grit

A tie isn’t any fun. Neither side can walk away feeling satisfied, no one feels like they proved anything or got a victory. Because they didn’t.

But the Cowboys were underdogs for a reason, and they got themselves into a big hole early. Big plays in key moments fueled this performance, and none were bigger than that Pickens catch. Lamb knew, and he knew “3” would deliver.

Ethan Woodie is an accomplished sports writer specializing in the NFL and college football for Heavy.com. He’s written for Heavy since 2025 and has years of experience writing for NFL Trade Rumors and Pro Football Focus (PFF). Woodie is an expert in draft scouting and his final 2025 Big Board was included in Arif Hasan’s media consensus board for Wide Left. More about Ethan Woodie