ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys' home opener ended in a disappointing 44-19 defeat against the New Orleans Saints. Despite the hometown advantage, the Cowboys struggled to keep pace with a dominant Saints offense.
The game began with the Cowboys' defense unable to stop the Saints, who scored on their first six drives. This aggressive start by New Orleans set the tone for the rest of the game. CeeDee Lamb provided a glimmer of hope early on with a spectacular 65-yard touchdown reception, narrowing the deficit to 21-13. However, the Cowboys' momentum was short-lived.
Defensive Struggles
The Cowboys' defensive unit allowed the Saints to add two more touchdowns before halftime. By the break, the Saints had built a commanding 35-16 lead. The statistics further highlighted Dallas's defensive woes: the Cowboys allowed 35 points in just the first half and struggled to convert key stops, as the Saints made five out of eight third-down conversions.
Offensive Missteps
Offensively, the Cowboys aimed to find balance but faced numerous obstacles. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw two interceptions, one of which was directly attributed to Jalen Brooks slipping on a slant route. Prescott reflected on these missteps post-game, stating, "It was hard to say that we were pressing. You're trying to play complementary football, and if your defense is struggling to stop a group, you want to do your part and score. We weren't able to score touchdowns, but were able to move the ball."
Despite some bright spots, including converting six of their 13 third-down attempts and Prescott connecting with Lamb on nine of Lamb's 17 targets for 151 yards, the Cowboys' offense faltered in crucial situations. They failed to capitalize on three red-zone opportunities, an area where Prescott admitted his shortcomings, saying, "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me."
Run Game Woes
The Cowboys also faced challenges in their run game, managing an average of only 85 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks of the season. The absence of Tony Pollard was deeply felt, as Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn struggled to fill the void. This inability to establish a strong ground attack placed additional pressure on Prescott and the passing game.
Offensive Chemistry
Prescott's chemistry with Lamb, while promising, is still developing. "Simply just trying to communicate. Maybe those misses, maybe what he saw, what he thought versus what I did and then, honestly, just finding a solution. We have to have those communications to substitute for the time missed," Prescott elaborated. The quarterback's passer rating through two games stood at 81.4, indicating room for improvement.
Furthermore, the Cowboys' offense, known for its explosive plays last season, has seen a significant drop-off in big plays this year. Last season, the Cowboys boasted 76 plays of 20 or more yards. This season, they have managed only four, highlighting their struggles to create significant yardage.
Looking Ahead
The Cowboys will need to address these issues quickly as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens in their next game. Prescott remains optimistic yet realistic about the need for precise execution. "My expectations are crazy high. I’m seeing it well, putting the ball where I want to. That one interception is going to get at me. Outside of that, there may be a few throws that I want to get back."
He also emphasized the necessity of every player doing their job effectively. "I don't want to say you have to be perfect, but everybody's got to do their job and trust their job. Part of it for me is going back to using my feet more, whether it's scrambling, extending the plays to look to throw the ball down the field, or maybe just going and getting a couple yards and getting down."
The Cowboys’ faithful will be hoping for a swift turnaround as the team navigates these early-season challenges, striving to find their rhythm and assert themselves in the coming weeks.