ARLINGTON, Texas — In a match that exposed the vulnerabilities of their defense, the Dallas Cowboys faced a disheartening 44-19 defeat against the New Orleans Saints in their home opener. Despite some promising moments, the Cowboys fell short on multiple fronts, from failed red-zone opportunities to defensive lapses.
Defensive Struggles
The Cowboys' defense allowed the Saints to march down the field and score on their first six drives. This early dominance set the tone for the evening, with the Saints leading a formidable 35-16 at halftime. "It was hard to say that we were pressing," remarked quarterback Dak Prescott. "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."
Offensive Bright Spots
Amid the defeat, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb delivered a standout performance, catching a 65-yard touchdown pass that narrowed the deficit to 21-13. Lamb connected with Prescott on nine of his 17 targets, accumulating 151 yards and one touchdown. While these figures highlight Lamb's potential, the chemistry between him and Prescott is still clearly a work in progress. "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," Prescott explained. "We have to have those communications to substitute for the time missed."
Turnovers and Missed Opportunities
Turnovers played a significant role in the Cowboys’ inability to sustain momentum. Jalen Brooks slipped on a slant route, leading to Prescott's first of two interceptions. These turnovers were costly, with the Saints capitalizing and adding two more touchdowns before halftime. Furthermore, the Cowboys failed to capitalize on three red-zone opportunities, a shortfall that Prescott lamented: "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 Woes
On the ground, the Cowboys averaged just 85 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks of the season. The trio of Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn struggled to fill the void left by Tony Pollard. This lack of a potent rushing attack only added to the offensive challenges the Cowboys faced.
Areas for Improvement
Through two games, the Cowboys have managed only four plays of 20 or more yards, a stark contrast to their 76 such plays last season. Prescott, who has a passer rating of 81.4 so far, acknowledged these struggles: "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."
Looking Forward
As the Cowboys prepare for their next game against the Baltimore Ravens, they have several areas to address. Defensive consistency, red-zone efficiency, and the development of a reliable rushing attack will be crucial. Prescott emphasized the importance of each player doing their job: "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' quest for improvement will continue as they strive to turn their season around. With a challenging schedule ahead, the time is now for this team to iron out their flaws and rise to the occasion.