One step forward, two steps back. That narrative has described the 2025 Dallas Cowboys defense to a tee six games into the regular season.

After a game in which Dallas’ defense performed much better in Week 5 against the Jets, there was optimism that the defense could build upon that performance this week against Carolina. That belief could not have been more wrong, as Dallas’ defense fell back into their old ways, once again looking like the most incompetent defensive unit in the entire NFL.

Coverage, pass rush, tackling, you name it, every facet of Dallas’ defense was horrible on Sunday. While the defense was a joke, the offense once again had a very productive day, despite being down four key players.

The Cowboys’ offense scored 27 points, and if their defense had been able to give them a little more, they likely would have won the game. Plenty of players on Dallas’ offense played well, but wide receiver George Pickens stood above the rest. Dallas’ wideout takes home this week’s game ball award.

When CeeDee Lamb went down with an ankle injury in Week 3, the Cowboys needed Pickens to step up and play like a number-one wide receiver in Lamb’s absence. The 24-year-old wideout has done that and more, totaling 19 catches for 359 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the three games without Lamb.

Sunday was no different as Pickens once again looked like the best wide receiver on the field. The former second-round pick totaled season-highs in receptions (nine, a career-high) and receiving yards (168), making play after play to help elevate Dallas’ offense.

Pickens scored a critical touchdown late in the third quarter, showing off his impressive breakaway speed.

Unfortunately for Pickens, his big day came in a loss as Dallas’ defense could not stop a nose bleed in the second half. Nonetheless, there is no denying the first-year Cowboy has looked like one of the best receivers in football from Week 4 on.

Pickens’ hot stretch has elevated him into a tie for the league lead with six receiving touchdowns and third in the league with 525 receiving yards. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua, the two players who have more receiving yards than Pickens, have 10 and 22 more receptions, respectively, showing just how many chunk plays Dallas’ star wideout is making.

To this point, the George Pickens acquisition is looking like one of Dallas’ best moves of the past decade. If their defense can somehow become not the worst unit in football, the Cowboys could be a dangerous team with arguably the best receiving duo in football once CeeDee Lamb returns.