ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys felt the sting of defeat in their home opener, succumbing to a commanding 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys' defense struggled early, allowing the Saints to score on their first six drives.
Despite the lopsided score, there were moments of promise for the Cowboys' offense. CeeDee Lamb provided a spark with a spectacular 65-yard touchdown catch that brought Dallas within striking distance, narrowing the deficit to 21-13. However, that momentum was short-lived as turnovers and missed opportunities plagued the Cowboys.
Defensive Struggles
One of the glaring issues for the Cowboys was their inability to stymie the Saints' offense. The Saints built a formidable lead, heading into halftime with a 35-16 advantage. Notably, the Dallas defense found themselves on the back foot, unable to halt the Saints before they found the end zone.
Jalen Brooks' slip on a slant route resulted in Dak Prescott's first of two interceptions, leading to more points for the Saints. The Cowboys’ secondary appeared out of sorts, and their defensive front struggled to apply consistent pressure, allowing the Saints to put up two additional touchdowns before the break.
Offensive Inconsistencies
The Cowboys' offense saw mixed results. Prescott and Lamb showed flashes of their potential, connecting on nine of Lamb's 17 targets for an impressive 151 yards and a touchdown. Yet, the chemistry between Prescott and Lamb remains 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. We have to have those communications to substitute for the time missed," said Prescott.
Despite these signs of promise, the Cowboys' offense failed to fully capitalize on scoring opportunities. They converted six of their 13 third-down attempts but struggled mightily in the red zone. "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me," Prescott admitted.
Running Game Void
The absence of Tony Pollard loomed large, as the Cowboys averaged just 85 rushing yards per game through their first two outings. The trio of Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn found it challenging to replicate Pollard's impact on the ground.
With the ground game sputtering, much of the offensive burden fell on Prescott's shoulders. "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 of yards and getting down," Prescott noted.
Looking Ahead
Prescott's passer rating stands at 81.4 through the first two games, a reflection of the uneven start for Dallas' high-powered offense. Last season, the Cowboys boasted 76 plays of 20 or more yards; this year, they have managed only four. The team will need to address these issues swiftly with a tough challenge ahead against the Baltimore Ravens.
"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," Prescott reflected, acknowledging the need for improvement while expressing confidence in his ability to lead the offense.
As the Cowboys regroup and prepare for their next test, the focus will undoubtedly be on ironing out the wrinkles in both their offensive and defensive play. If they can build on the positives and rectify the mistakes, brighter days may yet lie ahead for Dallas.