You know it’s bad when even the ex-pros start throwing shade. After a 44-19 smackdown courtesy of the Saints, one NFL legend didn’t hold back on Get Up ESPN. He called out Dallas’ offense for making life a lot harder for Dak Prescott.

Former Cowboys’ QB and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky made a solid point—Big D’s stacking the deck against their own QB. “I don’t think there’s an offense in football that sets up their quarterback to fail like the Cowboys did with Dak Prescott,” Orlovsky said, backing it up with cold stats and hard facts.

Dallas ran play action just 24 times, ranking 18th in the league. They used motion at snap plays only 23 times (29th). Screen plays? A dismal eight times (tied for 25th). And don’t even get started on their yards per rush—just 3.6, which ranks a lowly 29th. In football terms, that’s like trying to win a drag race with a flat tire.

Orlovsky wasn’t done. “In many ways, they’re saying—Dak Prescott, we want this to be as hard as possible for you. It reminds me a little bit of when Brady went down to Tampa,” he added, noting that back then, the Bucs also leaned too much on high-end execution, making it tough to consistently execute. For Prescott, it’s the same story, but without the happy ending (so far).

The Bulldogs standout struggled against the Saints—27 of 39 passes for 293 yards, with one TD and two interceptions. His two picks were particularly painful, especially the one right before halftime that turned into a game-changing TD for New Orleans.

Even Tom Brady weighed in: “Dak trusted his guy to make a play, but sometimes things go wrong. It’s football,” Brady said, defending the three-time Pro Bowl QB during the broadcast. But let’s be real, when you’re set up to fail, even the GOAT can’t save you.

Prescott’s response, though? Solid. “We’ll learn from it. Sometimes you get punched in the mouth, but it’s about how you respond.” Classic Prescott—no panic, just focus. The Saints’ loss left Big D licking their wounds, but the QB’s not ready to throw in the towel. “This isn’t a reflection of our team. We’ll get back to work and make the adjustments,” he promised. But honestly, with an offense like that? Easier said than done.

The Cowboys need to start taking stuff seriously now and amp up their offense. With Mike McCarthy’s offensive strategy under fire, we’re not sure if Dak Prescott will bounce back or fail again. Even CeeDee Lamb owned up, admitting his own failings after a rough day and a sideline spat with the QB.

CeeDee Lamb’s frustration and a sideline spat with Dak Prescott

Lamb’s having a moment—and it’s not a proud one. Having led the NFL in receptions last season, Big D’s top WR is off to a shaky start this season, but he owned it up like a boss. Dallas is sitting at 1-2, coming off a back-to-back beatdown, and Lamb’s on-field frustrations are bubbling over.

Sunday’s home loss to Baltimore wasn’t just another L in the column—it was nightmare-ish. Lamb barely showed up on the stat sheet: four catches, 67 yards. That’s it. After halftime, when the Cowboys were deep in a 28-6 hole, the wideout could only muster one catch for nine yards on six targets from Dak Prescott. Not exactly the performance Dallas needed. Throw in a false start penalty and a failed two-point conversion, and it’s no wonder Lamb was caught on camera losing it—arguing with Prescott, getting into it with the coaches, and slamming his hands on the turf. 

And then, just to keep us all guessing, Lamb ghosted the media post-game. No explanations, just a big ol’ question mark hanging over the Cowboys’ star. But when he finally reappeared on Tuesday, he didn’t sugarcoat it: “I failed myself,” he said, plain and simple. “I expect a lot out of myself—more than anyone could put on me. And quite honestly, I just failed myself.”

The WR knows his slump ain’t just affecting his stats—it’s dragging the team down, too. “I kinda let the game get to my head a little bit,” he admitted. “But going forward, there shall be a difference.”

CeeDee Lamb’s not about to point fingers, though. He’s staring straight into the mirror and taking the heat. “You gotta start with the man in the mirror,” he said, sounding like he’s ready to drop a self-reflective mixtape. 

With the Cowboys’ season teetering, Lamb’s got to turn this thing around, and fast. The comeback starts now.