After Dallas' poor Week 1 showing, it improved in Week 2, leading to that famous preseason debate being front and center.
To play starters in preseason or not? That is what the Dallas Cowboys, along with every other team, try to figure out.
We know that coach Brian Schottenheimer doesn't like to do, instead preferring his starters to get quality work in joint practices. Other teams do let their starters play, maybe a series or two to get the blood flowing and to get used to game speed and everything else that comes with it.
After the Cowboys' Week 1 loss to the New York Giants, in truth, they looked like a team that hadn't played together before...because they didn't.
Against the Washington Commanders in Week 2, there was a noticeable difference on both sides of the ball, though more so on offense.
For receiver CeeDee Lamb, when asked how much more in rhythm he feels after playing in Week 2 compared to Week 1, he gave an interesting answer.
"Much better," Lamb said. "I mean, you mentally put yourself in a situation as you're familiar with in last week. That's just being out there, being in an environment, getting your footing, certain routes. It is what it is. I'm not opposed to playing in the preseason, and I'm not opposed to not being in there. So, it's whatever.”
So, Lamb feels more in tune in Week 2 after getting the cobwebs blown out in Week 1, and it brings the preseason debate to the forefront.
Would the Cowboys have looked any different had they played a couple of series in the preseason prior to Week 1? Maybe.
But Dallas isn't the only team that doesn't play starters. Others do as well, and some of those teams won in Week 1.
In fact, we've crunched the numbers.
A total of 20 teams played their regular starting quarterback at some point during the preseason.
Their Week 1 resulting record is 9-11 (.450).
A total of 12 teams gave their regular starting quarterback zero preseason snaps. Week 1 record: 7-5 (.583).
Either way, Lamb feels far better overall about playing in Week 2 than he did in the season opener, and that likely has everything to do with getting a game under his belt first.
Yes, we know the injury risk, and that's real, but so too was Dallas starting 0-2 because that first game was so disjointed on both sides of the ball.
To play in preseason, or not to play? That's the big question, and one that will never have a "right" answer.
