The Dallas Cowboys are in a battle with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. They need to win if they want any hope at the postseason. The dream is almost dead, but a loss would be its final demise.
However, the game so far has been uncharacteristic for Dallas, with Brandon Aubrey missing a field goal and George Pickens being completely uninvolved.
George Pickens Slow Start
Pickens is due for a huge payday and has been pivotal to the Cowboys’ offensive success. Surprisingly, the Vikings have locked him up on primetime, as Pickens had zero catches until the final minute of the first half, which resulted in a 10-yard gain.
They need to get him more involved in the second half as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Lamb has been active, though, with three catches for 51 yards. If the Vikings switch their focus to containing Lamb, it should open up opportunities for Pickens to take advantage of and do some damage.
Pickens is the 3rd-best wide receiver in the league according to PFSN’s WR Impact metric with an impact score of 91.1. The Cowboys have to get him the ball in the second half. Their season hangs in the balance, and not giving the ball to your most dangerous weapon of the season so far would be organizational malpractice. The Vikings’ defense is playing well and is a tough unit, but the Cowboys have one of the best offenses.
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Their defense has been holding them back in 2025, and they haven’t played that well in primetime, either. But if the offense shows up, they have the firepower to outduel the inexperienced J.J. McCarthy. The question remains: What are the Cowboys made of? They’ve shown they can hang with the best of the NFL, but also struggle to get going in others.
There’s no room for error. Pickens needs to step up, Lamb needs to continue to get open, and Prescott needs to find them. The Cowboys have to throw the kitchen sink at Brian Flores and the Minnesota defense, or they will know that they are spending another postseason on their couches already.
Pickens needs to justify that he deserves to be paid top dollar in the offseason. There’s no doubt he’s going to get a big contract, but he needs to be consistent to secure the best possible agreement. The top performances have been unreal, but first halves like tonight can make potential suitors hesitant to give Pickens a deal in line with receivers like Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson. So, it’s time for Pickens to turn it up in the second half.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.Â
