'Amari Christmas!' Did Cowboys Goof On Cooper Trade as WR Sets Browns Records?

The Dallas Cowboys managed just 20 points in a loss to the Miami Dolphins, hours after ex-Cowboy Amari Cooper had the best game of his career. Did Dallas goof on that Cooper trade to the Browns?

Maybe the most infamous trade in recent Dallas Cowboys history reared its head again on Sunday when "America’s Team'' lost to the Miami Dolphins 22-20 as the Cleveland Browns experienced a "very Amari Christmas.''

In Miami, Dallas’ defense allowed a single touchdown to the league’s most explosive offense, and the offense didn’t do enough to win. An opening drive fumble set the tone for a late-afternoon game complete with weird penalties, an uninspiring offense, and - of course - another road loss.

Quarterback Dak Prescott played well. So did star receiver CeeDee Lamb, who posted 118 yards and a score on just six catches. Many others did not.

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Running back Tony Pollard somehow didn’t score on a leftward run that was stopped short of the goal line, seemingly breaking physics just a play before Hunter Luepke botched the mesh point. Similarly, Lamb was again the only starting receiver with any signs of life.

Receivers Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks combined for 62 snaps on passing plays. They totaled four catches for 18 yards and a touchdown. Granted, Cooks’ grab was a beauty in the end zone, but the rest of the day the duo was invisible.

A former Cowboys receiver, however, had himself one heck of a Christmas Eve. Browns receiver Amari Cooper, whom Dallas in the spring of 2021 traded for a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-rounders, had the game of his life on Sunday.

With playoff positioning on the line, Cooper faced off against the Houston Texans and set the single-game Browns receiving record. He caught 11 of his 15 targets for 265 yards and two scores in a game that Cleveland fans and Cooper fantasy managers won’t forget anytime soon.

He was unrecoverable, moving around the formation to destroy Houston’s man coverage and match principles all day long, helping veteran Joe Flacco extend his hot streak and bring the Browns to 10-5.

Prescott and the second-ranked passing offense (by expected points added per play) are not in dire straits. But when so much of the offense is funneled through Lamb, and the offense looks lifeless when targeting everyone else—save for a few Jake Ferguson targets—it’s hard not to miss Cooper.

The former Cowboy, still just 29 years old, is now up to 72 catches, 1,250 yards, and five scores on the season. Gallup and Cooks together have 77 catches for 976 yards and eight touchdowns.

'It's Always Something!' Cowboys Reveal 'Big Mistake' Regrets

"America’s Team'' has flaws outside of boundary receiver, but unforced errors like the Cooper deal have a way of biting teams in the butt, especially against quality competition.

Yes, we know Dallas' reasoning at the time. Cooper was a $20 million APY guy, and inside The Star it was decided that he isn't "that guy.'' Indeed, CowboysSI.com broke the story of why Dallas gave up on him. (See the link before to learn more.)

Amari Cooper 'Shrunk': Here's Why Cowboys Traded WR to Browns

At 10-5, Dallas has two weeks to re-affirm themselves as legitimate contenders before the NFC playoffs begin and imperfections put an end to Super Bowl aspirations.