The Dallas Cowboys are in an offensive rut right now, sitting at a disappointing 2-4 record after ugly back-to-back primetime losses. They dropped games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-16 and then the Green Bay Packers 23-13 in Weeks 5 and 6, marking the first time since 2019 that Dak Prescott has started consecutive games where the team scored less than 20 points. And it’s sparked a public challenge from Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens, who then opted to deflect the criticism straight back onto the entire squad.
Dallas’ Rushing Game Is an Absolute Mess
Let’s be real, the numbers don’t lie. This Cowboys offense is struggling big time, and the biggest culprit is their ground game. They’re ranked a dismal 31st in the league, averaging a meager 76.0 rushing yards per game. Think about that for a second: they’re practically at the bottom of the barrel. It gets worse: Dallas runs the ball on a league-low 32.5% of their plays. That’s just not going to cut it in the NFL, especially when you’re trying to set up those crucial play-action passes. This glaring weakness is exactly what Brian Schottenheimer honed in on this past Thursday, calling out George Pickens specifically.
Pickens’ Direct Shot Back at the Team
Schottenheimer didn’t mince words, criticizing Pickens for his effort as a run blocker and how hard he runs when the Cowboys are trying to move the chains on the ground. The OC believes this lack of perceived effort makes it tougher to successfully fake a handoff and then launch a pass. But on Friday after practice, Pickens wasn’t about to let that critique stand alone. Instead of directly addressing his own effort, he shifted the focus, making it all about what the *entire* Cowboys offense needs to do to fix their lagging run game.
Pickens, who was third in the NFL with 1,429 receiving yards in 2025 but is currently sitting outside the top 10 at No. 12 this season with 428 yards, had this to say: “I feel like, like I said, as a team, I feel like run, pass, a lot of stuff, you know what I mean? One week, it was you guys [the media] were saying defense [needs improvement]; one week you’re saying this. I feel like if you narrow the comments down, you’re talking about the team. So most definitely, I feel like as a team, just keep improving.” Talk about a direct shot back at the coaching staff and the rest of the locker room.
CeeDee Lamb Steps Up, But Can They Find Balance?
Despite the noise, fellow Pro Bowl wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is standing by his teammate. Lamb, who’s apparently closer to Pickens than anyone else in the building, hasn’t seen any dip in Pickens’ drive. He just shrugged, tilted his head, and grinned when asked about the criticism, saying, “I don’t think about it [the criticism]. I hang around GP more than pretty much anyone in this building, and I’m always going to be on his side. To answer your question. We’re cool man. He [Pickens] comes in ready to work every opportunity. It doesn’t seem to bother him. It’s not like we sit around and talk about the bad things people say. As far as his approach, coming to work and being the same guy every single day, he still does it.”
So, where do the Cowboys go from here? The clear path forward, according to the team, is to generate more explosive plays, both in the run and pass games. That’s supposed to breathe some life back into that struggling rushing attack. They currently have 34 explosive plays this season, but clearly, that’s not enough to overcome the overall offensive malaise. With a 2-4 record and this kind of internal friction bubbling to the surface, the Cowboys desperately need to get on the same page and find some balance, or this season is going to unravel fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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