In 2025, the Cowboys' offense had to be perfect for the team to win games due to the poor defensive play, but as it turns out, perfection was always being chased regardless.
One of the biggest knocks on the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 under Brian Schottenheimer was that the offense was so good, but the defense was so bad.
The Cowboys could beat any team in football with their offense, but could lose to anyone because of the defense.
As such, many cited the Cowboys' need to be perfect on offense just for the team to have a chance at winning games.
If the defense under Matt Eberflus was just league average, you could make the case that Dallas was a playoff team in 2025. It was really that simple.
But while many were frustrated that the Cowboys' offense would walk down the field, score a touchdown, only for the defense to allow a touchdown just four plays later, it didn't bother CeeDee Lamb.
Why? Because he was always chasing perfection.
"For me, I was in the Big 12, I say that with all due respect,” Lamb said on the Ross Tucker Football podcast. “My guys know I love them, but I'm used to putting up these numbers offensively. If our defense get a stop, we look at it like, oh my God, yes, we can run away with this game.
"If they don't, we got to score to win the game anyway. So, as a receiver, I'm looking to run up the score. If they do match us, okay, cool. I feel like our identity on pretty much every offense I've been on, just scoring points is everything."
There's no doubt that the Cowboys' offense in 2025 was elite.
Dak Prescott threw for 30 touchdowns and earned his fourth Pro Bowl nod, George Pickens had a career-year (1,429 yards, 9 TDs), Javonte Williams (1,201 yards, 11 TDs), and Lamb posted another 1,000+ yard season.
The Cowboys averaged a crisp 27.7 points per game last season, but it was the defensive performances, coupled with second-half fadeouts on offense, that led to a 7-9-1 record.
Dallas' offense scored 40 points against the Green Bay Packers and tied. Scored 27 against the Carolina Panthers, and the defense allowed Bryce Young to milk over six minutes off the clock to set up the game-winning field goal.
The Cowboys scored 30 points against Detroit, the defense gave up 44, and couldn't get a stop. Dallas scored 26 points against Minnesota, but the defense allowed 34 as the offense stuttered in the second half.
So there is plenty of blame to go around, but the offense did its part for most of the year.
And Lamb doesn't seem to be bothered by the defensive performance, simply because it is the offense's job to score points regardless.
Even if it irked and frustrated Cowboys Nation, how bad the defense actually was.