Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys | Ron Jenkins/GettyImages 

Who would have guessed that the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers would give football fans one of the games of the year? Certainly not us and most definitely not after Dallas was eliminated from playoff attention during Sunday’s early slate of games.

Led by Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb, this team has refused to lie down when struck with adversity. They could have bottomed out at various points this season. Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers was the latest proof that this Cowboys team is not soft.

Parsons battled through an illness that cropped up late in the week, while Lamb continued playing through a AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. Both superstars missed time in the second half.

Lamb, though, was so battered he only had one catch after halftime. Sure enough, it was on Dallas’ final possession as they tried (and failed) to milk the clock.

Lamb was asked after the win about his shoulder. He didn’t mince words about what he’s going through.

CeeDee Lamb opens up about shoulder injury after Cowboys’ Week 16 win

“My shoulder is outta whack, I’m not gonna even lie to you,” said Lamb. “Just trying to keep my arm attached to my bodyI’m just out there battling and doing what I do. It’s not fun … I love this game that much. I’m literally willing to put my body out there on the line for my guys.”

That is CeeDee Lamb in a nutshell.

The All-Pro receiver was in visible pain after hauling in a 52-yard pass in the second quarter. He returned one snap later, made a catch in the red zone and proceeded to make three Buccaneers miss before getting tackled at the half-yard line.

It was initially called a touchdown, but Lamb’s knee was down and it got called back. It would have been the perfect capper to a heroic drive, but that takes nothing away from No. 88’s heroics. It was one of the most impressive displays of grit by any NFL player this season.

What’s more important than coming up big in the win, though, is that Lamb is setting a standard for his teammates. By playing all-out through a grueling injury, Lamb is telling everyone that nobody can sit out down the stretch in games that don’t matter. Parsons and Jourdan Lewis, who is playing through an injured elbow, deserve credit for that as well.

After getting paid in the offseason and with Dallas eliminated from playoff contention, Lamb could easily take the rest of the season off and come back healthy in 2025. That would be coward’s way out, though, and Lamb, as he proved again Sunday night, is one of the toughest players in football.