The Dallas Cowboys entered their Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints with high hopes following a dominant 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. However, the narrative quickly turned sour for the Cowboys as they endured a humbling 44-19 defeat at the hands of the Saints.
Dominance from the Outset
New Orleans, led by quarterback Derek Carr, came out firing on all cylinders. The Saints scored a touchdown on each of their first six drives, relentlessly exploiting the Cowboys' defensive vulnerabilities. A striking example of their offensive prowess was an 80-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run from star running back Alvin Kamara.
Kamara proved to be a thorn in the Cowboys' side throughout the game, accumulating an astounding 180 yards from scrimmage and scoring three touchdowns. His performance underscored the struggles of the Dallas defense, which conceded a franchise record-tying 35 points in the first half alone. It marked the second-largest home opener defeat under owner Jerry Jones.
Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks captured the mood in the locker room, saying, "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels."
Struggles and Setbacks
The defensive woes were particularly glaring given the contrast to the previous week's performance. In Week 1, the Cowboys’ defense recorded six sacks and two interceptions. Against the Saints, however, they managed only one sack and one interception, illustrating a stark decline in effectiveness.
"Unacceptable. Yeah, it's not necessarily confusing, it's just you have to be on your toes," said cornerback Trevon Diggs. "You have to be on your Ps and Qs because they can run it, play-action and then when they [are] passing the ball, they're max-protecting everybody. So we're not getting any [pass] rush. You're just out there just, you know, this is unacceptable. We ain't come to play today."
The Cowboys' defense struggled to generate pressure, achieving a mere 17.6% quarterback pressure rate against the Saints. This lack of pressure afforded Derek Carr ample time to orchestrate New Orleans' efficient offensive drives.
Tackling Troubles
Another area of concern was the Cowboys' tackling, or lack thereof. Many missed tackles allowed the Saints to extend plays and drives. Linebacker Micah Parsons emphasized the importance of fundamental tackling in his post-game comments.
"We have to use our hands and feet. We got a guy like Kamara. We're not tackling well. We're arm-tackling. We're trying to pull a guy down. We got to be aggressive, we have to create penetration and do a much better job tackling," Parsons commented.
Strategic Adjustments
Parsons also noted how the Saints' offensive strategy complicated their defensive efforts. "They did a great job schematically. Everything was short. Everything was quick, and if it wasn't, it was max [protect], two-man routes. ... Instead of having a lineman block me in max protection with a chip, they sent a chip with a lineman and sent a running back to cut. I was going through a maze almost. I thought that was creative, a new way."
Locker Room Reflections
The defeat left the Cowboys’ locker room deflated but determined. Kendricks expressed the collective disappointment, saying, "I feel like you look around the locker you can sense it. Obviously everyone is disappointed. We didn't want that, especially at the home opener. The NFL will humble you like that. This isn't the first time I've been a part of that. We got to make a stand. We got to come back to work tomorrow. Obviously, let it hurt for a little bit. I think that's a good thing. Put it in our rearview and work toward the next."
Parsons, reflecting on his own performance, added, "Everyone is going to say they did their job and everything was perfect right now, but the film tells all. I can't wait to see the film. I don't know who was out of what gap [in the run game]. I know for the guys when I turn the film on, I want to say 'No. 11 was giving his all.' That's all that matters. Then, we're going to continue that standard. I got a job. I owe these guys. I owe my family a certain level of ball. I don't think I helped to the best of my abilities today."
As the Cowboys confront the realities of this disheartening loss, the focus will inevitably shift to addressing the myriad issues exposed by the Saints. While Week 1 showcased their potential dominance, Week 2 highlighted the inconsistencies that must be resolved to regain their footing in the upcoming games.