ARLINGTON, Texas — With quarterback Dak Prescott out indefinitely with a hamstring injuryThe Dallas Cowboys, losers of five of their first eight games, need every play 50-50 to continue their path with backup Cooper Rush under center.
The Cowboys’ home field, AT&T Stadium, did them no favors in the first half of Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas caught a break after All-Pro running back Micah Parsons stripped Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, allowing the Cowboys to start a drive 6 yards from the end zone.
AT&T Stadium then helped Philadelphia’s defense keep Dallas out of the end zone. Rush threw the ball in CeeDee Lamb’s direction on second-and-goal from the 3-yard line, and his pass appeared to hit Lamb between the numbers for an easy, decisive touchdown.
However, Lamb fumbled in the glare of the Texas sun that juts out of AT&T Stadium’s east-west windows that shed light on the field as the sun sets. The 2023 NFL receiving leader immediately pointed to his eyes to indicate he couldn’t see the ball. Dallas ended up settling for a 23-yard field goal to cut the Eagles’ lead to one point, 7-6.
Cowboys owner and general Jerry Jones also owns full-length blackout curtains for the windows at AT&T Stadium, and they are used for concerts, college football games, high school football games, and almost any other event held in his stadium. Lamb said after the game that he is “one thousand percent” in favor of the curtains being used for Cowboys home games. He also said he didn’t need to talk to Jones about it, since members of the local media are already doing just that.
“By the way, we know where the sun will be when we decide to flip the coin or not,” Jones said after the game. “We know where the damn sun will be in our own stadium.”
However, Jones’ decision to perhaps put broadcast television aesthetics over practicality for Cowboys home games cost his team a touchdown that could have turned the tide of Sunday’s game in Dallas’ favor.
“Everyone has the same thing,” Jones said. All the teams that come here have the same problems. “What I’m saying is that the world knows where the sun is. You know that almost a year in advance. Someone asked me about the sun. What about the sun? Where is the moon?”
