ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys faced a brutal reality at their home opener as they suffered a 44-19 defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys' defense struggled significantly, allowing the Saints to score on their first six drives, setting a grim tone for the rest of the game.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb provided a glimmer of hope for Dallas, catching a spectacular 65-yard touchdown pass that narrowed the deficit to 21-13. However, it was short-lived. Quarterback Dak Prescott's woes continued on the back of a costly error as Jalen Brooks slipped on a slant route, resulting in Prescott's first of two interceptions for the game.
Struggles on Both Sides of the Ball
By halftime, the Saints had widened their lead to 35-16, capitalizing on the Cowboys' defensive lapses and missed opportunities. Dallas converted only six of their 13 third-down attempts, an effort that pales in comparison to the Saints' efficient five out of eight conversions. More critically, the Cowboys failed to capitalize on three red-zone opportunities that could have shifted the game's momentum.
Prescott's chemistry with Lamb is still a work in progress. This was evident as they connected on only nine of Lamb's 17 targets, albeit for a notable 151 yards and a touchdown. Despite this, Prescott's passer rating remains a mediocre 81.4 through the first two games of the season. “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 admitted.
Running Game Falls Short
The absence of Tony Pollard has left a notable void in the Cowboys' rushing game. Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn have struggled to fill the gap, with the team averaging just 85 rushing yards per game through two weeks. This lack of ground support has hamstrung the Cowboys’ offensive efforts, putting even more pressure on Prescott and the passing game to deliver.
Quarterback Reflections
Reflecting on the game, Prescott noted the importance of more cohesive team play. “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,” he said. Prescott took accountability for the red-zone inefficiencies, stating, “I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me.”
High Expectations
Despite the setbacks, Prescott remains optimistic. “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 significance of executing plays and the necessity of using his feet more to create opportunities. “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,” Prescott concluded.
The Cowboys are set to face the Baltimore Ravens in their next game, an encounter that will undoubtedly test their resolve and ability to bounce back from this early-season slump. With their sights firmly set on redemption, the team will need to address these glaring issues quickly if they hope to turn their season around.