ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys kicked off their home opener with high hopes, but those aspirations were quickly dashed by a dominant New Orleans Saints team that cruised to a 44-19 victory. The Cowboys' defense appeared porous, allowing the Saints to score on their first six drives, making it an uphill battle from the start.
Early Defensive Struggles
The early stages of the game set the tone for a long night for the Cowboys. New Orleans capitalized on a weak Dallas defense, marching down the field effortlessly. The inability to contain the Saints' offense became glaringly evident as Dallas allowed sizeable gains on virtually every play, leading to an insurmountable halftime score of 35-16 in favor of the Saints.
Even a spectacular 65-yard touchdown catch by CeeDee Lamb couldn't ignite a full comeback. Though Lamb's catch brought the Cowboys within striking distance at 21-13, it was insufficient to change the momentum. The Saints quickly retaliated, adding two more touchdowns before the half ended.
Offensive Misfires
While the Dallas offense showed flashes of brilliance, it was riddled with inconsistency. Quarterback Dak Prescott finished the game with a passer rating of 81.4, struggling to find chemistry with his receiving corps. His rapport with CeeDee Lamb is still a work in progress, albeit showing promise with nine connections on 17 targets for a total of 151 yards and a touchdown.
Prescott candidly assessed the situation: "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. I can't say that we were pressing necessarily."
Adding to the offensive woes, wide receiver Jalen Brooks slipped on a slant route, leading to Prescott's first of two interceptions. This miscue further hampered Dallas' ability to keep pace with New Orleans.
Despite converting six of their 13 third-down attempts, the Cowboys failed to capitalize on three red-zone opportunities, highlighting an ongoing struggle to finish drives effectively. Prescott put the onus on himself, stating, "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me."
Running Game Struggles
The Cowboys' rushing attack was virtually non-existent in Tony Pollard's absence. Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn collectively failed to fill the void, leaving Dallas with an average of just 85 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks of the season.
Looking Ahead
To bounce back, the Cowboys will need to find a solution quickly as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens in their next outing. Prescott acknowledges the need for better 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."
The quarterback also emphasized the importance of fine-tuning the team's offensive coordination: "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."
In a sport where perfection is rarely attainable, Prescott understands the need for each player to excel in their role: "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 have a lot to rectify but recognizing these issues is the first step toward improvement. With key games on the horizon, their ability to adapt and overcome these shortcomings will be crucial for their season's success.