CeeDee Lamb Declares: 'It’s About the Team'—Committed to Learning and Leading Cowboys to Victory
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is embracing accountability after a recent tough performance, insisting that it’s not just about individual success but about the team’s overall victory. Despite a rough outing with several key drops, Lamb is determined to use the experience as motivation to come back stronger and lead the Cowboys to bigger and better things.
“It’s not just about me—it’s about the team,” Lamb said after the game. “I’ll learn from my mistakes, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help us win. We’ve got a bigger goal ahead, and we’re all in it together. This is just one chapter of our journey.”
Lamb’s words reflect his unwavering commitment to the Cowboys and his focus on collective success rather than individual setbacks. While his drops, including a potential game-changing touchdown, were widely criticized, Lamb remains focused on the bigger picture—helping his team achieve their ultimate goal: a Super Bowl title.
The 2025 season has been a mixed bag for Lamb. While he’s had several big performances, his consistency has come into question following the drops. However, Lamb is not one to shy away from criticism. Instead, he is using it as fuel to work harder, improve his game, and ensure that such mistakes do not happen again. His leadership in this moment is crucial for the Cowboys, as they look to rally together for the remainder of the season.
Lamb’s acknowledgment of his role in the team’s success is a refreshing reminder of the values that make teams great. It’s not just about one player, no matter how talented they are; it’s about working together to achieve a common goal. Lamb is dedicated to learning from this setback, improving his focus, and ultimately helping the Cowboys reach the postseason and beyond.
"We’ve got a bigger goal ahead," Lamb continued. "I’m ready to put in the work, and I’m confident that when we all come together, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with."
As the Cowboys prepare for their upcoming games, Lamb’s words will resonate throughout the locker room. His leadership, humility, and determination are exactly what the team needs to push forward and make a deep playoff run. With Lamb committed to learning and leading, the Cowboys are in good hands as they continue their journey to greatness.
Broncos DC: Bonitto’s Best Trait Isn’t Speed - It’s Sacrificing Sacks for Team Success
After finding the kryptonite necklace to hang around the neck of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is getting his flowers.
Some would argue that the national media should have caught up to Joseph and the Broncos much faster than it has, but the veteran defensive coach is expected to garner significant head-coaching buzz once the hiring cycle begins in January.
While it might take a Super Bowl win to push Joseph into the defensive mastermind territory with the likes of Vic Fangio, the Broncos' coordinator is operating in rarified air, not only because of his scheme and play-calling, but also because he gets his guys to buy into his philosophy unselfishly. And Joseph now has a resume as a developer of talent.
Broncos rush linebacker Nik Bonitto is a prime example, according to Joseph, who praised the Pro Bowler with the tone of a proud father in his conversation with ESPN
"It's no doubt. His get-off, [and] his instincts are off the charts. He can drop into coverage. He can cover guys. I mean, he is rare [in] that he can do every job that's required for outside linebacker at a high level,"
Cage Rusher
Pass-rushing dual-threat quarterbacks like Mahomes or Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts, who can devastate a defense with their legs as easily with their arms, must be done with strategy and tact. The Broncos defeated both Mahomes and Hurts, so Joseph's cage-rush model is something NFL teams will likely be looking to duplicate.
"How we rush the passer versus certain people is the cage rush... So if you're rushing four guys, it's always going to be two gaps open. So when you're cage-rushing, the edge guys have to rush with power and to crush the edge. As a speed rusher, he can win his one-on-one every single down he lines up," Joseph said of Bonitto. "So to buy into cage rush so we can contain Jalen [Hurts]. Or Patrick [Mahomes]. It's rare for a rusher because they don't want to do that."
Team-First Mentality
Sacks are the cold, hard currency that premier pass rushers deal in, and when cage-rushing, it's not as easy to stack up the numbers. So, the only conclusion you can draw is that Bonitto is chasing the ultimate piece of hardware instead of stats or individual accolades.
"So if he was allowed to just go every play, he would have already double the sacks he has. But man, he doesn't b**** at all about it. He's all team-first," Joseph said of Bonitto. "You know, we're playing one game where he's already got two sacks."
Under the tutelage of Joseph, Bonitto has gone from promising second-round pick to one of the game's most explosive sack artists, and he's gotten paid handsomely along the way. That lays a nice blueprint for what can be achieved if a player and organization can get in lockstep with a more incremental developmental trajectory.
Rise of the Rookie
Another case study is Joseph's shrewd and steadfast plan to coach up first-round cornerback Jahdae Barron, which is slowly making him a more complete player and weapon. The Broncos' approach to developing Barron has allowed him to be worked in throughout the season, helping to alleviate the pressure.
However, introducing Barron as the boundary cornerback opposite Riley Moss in the Broncos' base defense was forced upon Joseph due to the Patrick Surtain II injury, but throwing the rookie in at the deep end has delivered positive results thus far.
"Again, it goes back to the vision for him. He's obviously a corner for us. But we have Pat [Surtain], we have [Riley]. So his vision was to be a nickel dime player in the first year, obviously, and moving forward, play some outside corner," Joseph said of Barron. "But with Pat being injured for the past three weeks, he was forced to play corner. And I'm telling you it helped him, because he went from playing nickel and dime, where it was more of a thinking man's game, to playing corner, where your physical traits had to kind of activate. And we saw it in practice, it was like, 'Man, that's the first round pick.'"
The Takeaway
By making the bold decision to reunite with the Broncos, Joseph has proven he can identify and develop talent aligned with a longer-term vision. Barron will eventually have the extensive toolbox to play inside and outside at will, and that puts the Broncos in an advantageous position for years to come.
Furthermore, just like Bonitto, you don't hear any complaints from Barron that he's been given an overloaded plate for a reason.
Joseph deserves a lot of credit for the development of these young players, for how the Broncos' defense has taken its play to the next level, and for where the team finds itself at the bye. When he gets his inevitable chance to be a head coach once again, he'll leave behind a framework in Denver that's built to last.
