Lambasted: Cowboys over, under and proper reactions after 24-21 win

The Dallas Cowboys' Week 12 win over the Philadelphia Eagles had all the emotions. Falling behind by 21 points early in the first half had all the makings of a blowout. What could go wrong, did go wrong for Dallas, and the defending Super Bowl champs had no problem making them pay for it early on.

It was at this moment yours truly began penning a forward-looking mock draft to accompany what was sure to be a season-ending loss. Then the improbable happened. The Cowboys locked down on defense and held the Eagles scoreless on their final eight possessions. The offense needed every one of those stops the defense gave them as they mounted their comeback, eventually kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired and winning, 24-21.

It was a complete team effort that took fans through an emotional rollercoaster. Extreme takes were aplenty before, during, and after the game, with some takes warranted and many others completely unwarranted.

Cowboys Week 12 overreaction: Lamb

CeeDee Lamb had a clunker of a game. His three drops were a thing of nightmares, with the most consequential drop occurring in the endzone on what could have been a game-winning drive. With the memories of his Week 1 drops in Philadelphia still fresh on the minds of many, fans went from regarding Lamb their WR1 to calling him a bona fide problem in a matter of hours.

Lamb's four receptions for 75 yards on 11 targets wasn’t great, but the combination of drops and attitude appear to be what was ruffling the most feathers in Cowboys Nation. Without a certification in lipreading, it’s difficult to decipher exactly what Lamb was saying and/or who he was blaming. But the explosive outburst in Week 12 looks disturbingly familiar to those Dez Bryant blowups of yesteryear, so a negative fan response is understandable. Yet, making it out to be more than a bad game in a slightly disappointing season is probably an overreaction.

44 receptions and 632 yards in eight games means Lamb would theoretically be on a 17-game pace of 83 receptions and 1,343 yards. That’s hardly problematic. The drops and the emotional response to the drops have to go away, but they aren't deal breakers with numbers like this.

Given the way bad games tend to snowball for No. 88, it’s clear his method of coping to bad plays isn’t working for him, so it's something he must address. But the Cowboys are a better team with a talent like him on the field and if the Cowboys want to continue their improbable march to the postseason, they’ll need both receivers playing their best. Look for Lamb to shake this off.

Cowboys Week 12 underreaction: Williams

Cowboys Nation knew they were getting a star when they traded for Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. The former third-overall pick in 2019 NFL draft was a blue-chip prospect from the start. By his fourth NFL season he was making Pro Bowls and earning All-Pro honors en route to a special pro career.

In Dallas he’s been nothing short of spectacular. The 27-year-old defensive tackle isn’t just playing like the best interior linemen in the game, but he’s elevating those around him to new heights. Players like Kenny Clark, Osa Odighizuwa and Donovan Ezeiruaku have been shinning alongside Williams and the entire defense has been profiting.

Currently graded as the No. 3 DT in the NFL, Williams is making up for a slow start in New York. If Williams can keep up his level of play since coming to Dallas, there’s no reason to think he won’t be the top DT in the league when all is said and done. If anything, we're not excited enough about Quinnen Williams.

Cowboys Week 12 proper reaction: Defense

The Cowboys defense seems to finally be figuring things out and it’s changed the course of their season. To mount their comeback against the Eagles they needed turnovers and stops. Keep in mind, the offense still squandered opportunities in their comeback bid, so they needed those extra chances the defense gave them.

Not many people think the Dallas defense has suddenly catapulted to become the backbone of the team just like not many people believe this is the same old cellar dwelling unit that started the season. It’s somewhere in between and that's the right reaction.

It’s feasible they’ll be a top-10 unit down the stretch. It’s also possible they’ll plateau closer to the middle of the pack. Most fans are cautiously optimistic this unit will continue its ascent, keeping the Cowboys in the hunt, and playing their best when things matter most but this remains a wait-and-see situation in Cowboys Nation.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Lambasted: Cowboys over, under and proper reactions after 24-21 win