On Monday night, ESPN found the perfect opportunity to take a playful shot at Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys, and they did it in a way that caught plenty of attention. One of the unusual issues plaguing the Cowboys this season has been a sunlight problem at their home venue, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Because of the stadium’s unique east-to-west orientation, sunlight often seeps through the glass windows and directly onto the field, creating glare that can impact players. This phenomenon has been one of several unflattering talking points surrounding the Cowboys, especially since the sunlight can be blinding for players trying to make crucial plays in the west end zone.
Earlier in the season, the Cowboys were on the receiving end of this issue when star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb struggled to catch a touchdown pass, visibly blinded by sunlight that had filtered through the stadium.
The image of Lamb missing what seemed like a catchable pass due to the sunlight became a symbolic moment for the team’s ongoing frustrations this season, and it wasn’t long before fans and pundits began questioning why the problem had yet to be addressed.
ESPN decided to have some fun with the controversy during their broadcast of the “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Cowboys and their in-state rivals, the Houston Texans. The sports network ran a graphic that humorously highlighted the sunlight problem.
The animation recreated the scene of Lamb completely missing a pass due to sunlight shining through a living room window, obstructing his view. The animation then showed curtains closing to block out the sun, revealing a stat that had Cowboys fans shaking their heads—Dallas’ dismal 0-4 record at home heading into Week 11.
The jab was playful, but it certainly called attention to an ongoing issue that has made AT&T Stadium a challenging place to play—not for opposing teams, but for the Cowboys themselves.
Despite the increasing scrutiny and backlash from both fans and analysts, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has remained firm in his stance that there are no plans to address the sunlight problem in the stadium.
For Jones, the sunlight streaming into AT&T Stadium is part of its architectural charm, but for the Cowboys players, it’s becoming an increasingly frustrating quirk that affects their performance.
While the sunlight wasn’t an issue during Monday night’s game—since it was played under the lights—a different problem emerged at AT&T Stadium just hours before the Cowboys-Texans kickoff.
Reports surfaced of electrical issues at the venue, causing concerns that the game could face delays. Fortunately, the problem was resolved in time for kickoff, and the game proceeded without further incident.
Despite the challenges, both humorous and serious, the Cowboys are determined to turn their season around.
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However, for the fans and the media, the sunlight controversy has become a lasting symbol of some of the Cowboys’ home-field issues.
ESPN’s jab might have been lighthearted, but it carried a pointed reminder that, for a franchise as storied as the Cowboys, even small details can make a big difference—and ignoring them can lead to ridicule on the national stage.
As the Cowboys continue to battle for consistency, one can only wonder if the sunlight streaming into AT&T Stadium will continue to be a talking point—or if Jerry Jones might eventually change his mind about installing a simple fix like curtains or shades.
For now, however, it remains a unique quirk of one of the NFL’s most iconic stadiums, and an enduring reminder that sometimes even the brightest spotlight can have unintended consequences.
