EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Dallas Cowboys watched anxiously as their top defensive player needed help getting off the field during the last minutes of the match. They managed to put a little pressure on the New York Giants’ quarterback three times and endured two last-minute drives from the Giants, walking away with a narrow 20-15 win. The Cowboys were outperformed offensively, lost possession for 10 minutes longer than New York, and were penalized 11 times for a total of 89 yards.

However, the mood in the locker room was primarily one of relief instead of anxiety.

“There’s more happiness in here,” said wide receiver CeeDee Lamb after the match. “After losing two games in a row, it puts everyone in a tense situation.”

Lamb added, being professionals, the Cowboys were ready to get back to playing again soon, despite the short week.

“It was great for us to win this week. We really needed it,” Lamb remarked. “It was a crucial division game – this puts us in a good position.”

This victory brought Dallas back to an even record of 2-2 and spared sports commentators the chance to criticize the Cowboys for the next ten days ahead of their Week 5 “Sunday Night Football” game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We’re aware of everything being said,” linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (who had eight tackles) stated. “We’re human, but more importantly, we’re competitive individuals… This entire week we wanted to showcase our ability. Now we just need to keep building on this.”

Lamb, who was seen quite vocal on the sidelines when the Cowboys fell behind the Baltimore Ravens last week, had a much more uplifting reason to shout against the Giants.

The receiver made seven receptions for 98 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott just before the end of the first quarter. The Giants tasked second-year cornerback Deonte Banks with covering Lamb.

All Prescott needed to do was let Lamb get a step on Banks at the line of scrimmage and deliver the pass before the deep safety could react. Lamb, who noted this was the only one-on-one opportunity he had all game, caught the ball at the Giants’ 40-yard line and took it to the house.

“My mindset was, ‘Let’s go score.’ That’s my thinking when I have a one-on-one matchup,” Lamb explained.

His jubilant celebration, however, attracted three separate taunting penalties, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty for the extra point. Lamb reflected on how everything moved quickly during that moment as he tossed the football and flexed to the audience after crossing into the end zone.

“All that energy and emotion just came out,” he shared.

Lamb assured his coaches that this celebration won’t happen again in 2024; he has only one ‘free’ celebration per season.

“That emotion built up over time,” Lamb admitted, reflecting on his celebration.

Winning has a way of easing tension and bringing back that ‘joy’ to a team striving for it.