CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were sidelined early for indiscretions, but returned to lead Dallas to a 33-16 win over the Raiders.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated when he took over in the offseason that he wanted to create the best culture in professional sports, and at the beginning of the Cowboys' 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, he planted his flag in the ground.
Having disciplined players before, Schottenheimer hadn't dealt with a star player stepping out of line and many wondered if he would take the same hard-line approach if it happened.
Well, he did.
Both CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens missed "some things" Schottenheimer said and as a result the pair sat the entire first drive with Dallas going three-and-out. But once they returned, they obliterated Las Vegas.
"Had a conversation with those guys, that was easy," Schottenheimer said on benching the pair. "You look at the energy those guys play with, they literally jump-started the offense when they got back in there. They didn't hang their heads, and that's why I love those guys. This was a great team win."
Pickens was colossal, hauling in nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown as No. 3 couldn't' be stopped. Dak Prescott got the ball out quick and on time to let Pickens do this time with yards after the catch a George specialty time and time again.
He was playing a different game in Las Vegas.
As for CeeDee, his 66 yards and a wide-open touchdown on five catches was less explosive than George, but No. 88 still has his way with the Raiders secondary.
Schottenheimer wasn't afraid to pull the trigger and make his two star weapons pay for their sins, and some weren't happy with the decision given Dallas went three-and-out, but to establish a culture, everyone has to uphold the standard and when they don't, they get disciplined.
And it is evident that Schotty doesn't care who does it, he isn't about to let players do their own thing, even if it is Lamb and Pickens.
That decision is what will help shift this Cowboys culture in the direction it needs to go, and hopefully, this is the last time something like this happens.
Yes, Lamb and Pickens balled out after, but in an ideal world, the pair would have been on the field from the opening snap instead of watching from the sidelines.
Building culture isn't easy, especially when you have to discipline your best weapons in what was a monster game for the franchise.
And credit to him, because Schotty did it.