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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) is seen on the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Arlington.<\/p>\n
Chitose Suzuki\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
\u201cKevin Sherrington\u2019s A La Carte<\/a>\u201d is a weekly newsletter curated by DMN sports columnist Kevin Sherrington where he hits all of the latest sports topics around North Texas and all major sports.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Sports Roundup newsletter to receive exclusive content from Sherrington every week. Read an excerpt from this week\u2019s newsletter below.<\/p>\n Kevin Sherrington’s A La Carte<\/p>\n \u2014 Here’s how poorly Dak Prescott’s self-proclaimed “Greatest Offense There Is<\/a>” performed in an ugly loss to the Packers: They couldn’t get close enough to the end zone even for Brandon Aubrey, whose range is the parking lot. Not a single field goal attempt. The 2-4 Cowboys need all the help they can get these days, and when their best player can’t even get on the field, I don’t like their chances.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u2014\u00a0Jonathan Gannon \u2013 who designed the Packers defense that gave Dak fits Sunday and drew raves from analysts across the board \u2013 also interviewed for the Cowboys’ DC job. The one held by Christian Parker<\/a>, whose hand is now held by Mike Pettine.<\/p>\n \u2014\u00a0CeeDee Lamb changed his shoes after the slip that resulted in one of Dak’s two interceptions<\/a>. Maybe he should have figured out what cleats he needed pregame, no? Like showing up for the Cattle Baron’s Ball in loafers.<\/p>\n \u2014 Before looking up any silver linings because the Packers only scored 23 points, let’s not forget they also dropped three touchdown passes. Or that they were 11 of 18 on third down. The Cowboys’ third-down defense, in fact, could be the worst in franchise history. Remember that 3rd and 21 the Bucs picked up? The Cowboys’ defense is like a moving company. There’s no distance it won’t accommodate<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Latest example of Cowboys losing their minds as well as games: According to Pro Football Focus, Tyler Booker is the Cowboys’ best offensive lineman, better even than Tyler Smith. Yet, on a play in the second half, he charges all the way across the field, lowers his helmet and crashes, rhino-style, into the back of a Packer after the whistle blows. Temporary insanity is what I’d plead.<\/p>\n \u2014\u00a0All of this, and yet, the NFC East remains within reach<\/a>. Of course, we said the same thing about the Rangers, and look where that got us.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u2014\u00a0Arch Manning’s back-up, redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr., reportedly is getting first-team reps this week in preparation for Ole Miss. Can’t argue. But, if Steve Sarkisian goes there<\/a>, and Lacey plays well, there’s no going back.<\/p>\n \u2014 Even bigger issue for Texas: How to replace Colin Simmons, the nation’s best defensive player, after a high ankle sprain?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u00a0If the 24-team tournament was in play this year, none of the chaos in college football would matter much, which is what makes it such fun. If you’re betting on teams from Texas to make the CFP this year, go with Texas Tech<\/a>, but go light. I’d hate to think you’d lose the kids’ lunch money based on anything I said.<\/p>\n Story time: One of the hazards of sportswriting even after all these years is finding your way around unfamiliar territory. Particularly on deadline when there’s no one to point you to the little room beneath the stadium where the head coach is holding his postgame presser.<\/p>\n Such was the case last month at Tiger Stadium after Texas A&M’s loss to LSU. Just last year I’d found the room with no problem. Maybe because I had a guide. Anyway, after the Aggies’ big win over LSU last year, I listened to Mike Elko bark at his handler because he didn’t like the manner in which she ran the presser. Let’s just say he likes order. Too bad we can’t say the same about his offense.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n One of his pet peeves is people walking in and out while he’s taking questions, which is where it went wrong last month for yours truly.<\/p>\n By the time I got directions to the right door and slowly pulled it open, an A&M employee on the other side looked me in the eye and, without so much as a wince of regret, pulled the door shut.<\/p>\n Of course, as the lovely wife will tell you, I’m not easily dissuaded. Tried the door a couple more times. Nothing. Finally it burst open and out spilled a gaggle of\u00a0Aggies including the head coach. Elko looked a little startled but didn’t pause for any niceties.<\/p>\n A couple of colleagues who’d made it inside asked me later if I was, indeed, the guy trying to get in. They said the A&M official in question held onto the door like Rommel’s 7th Panzer Division was on the other side.<\/p>\n Fortunately, one of the same peers provided a tape of the presser. I didn’t file a protest, mostly because I don’t like to make a fuss. Also, it was my fault for being late. A congenital defect. I still get lost in my own house. \u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n More from\u00a0Sherrington<\/p>\n \u2014 Once a high-scoring shootout, the Revivalry has become a slog for TCU and Baylor<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n