Home Opener Ends in Disappointment: Cowboys Fall to Saints 44-19
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys' highly anticipated home opener against the New Orleans Saints ended in a disheartening 44-19 defeat, leaving fans and players alike searching for answers.
From the outset, the Cowboys' defense struggled to contain the Saints, allowing them to score on their first six drives. This immediate disadvantage set the tone for the rest of the game.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb provided a fleeting moment of hope with an electrifying 65-yard touchdown catch, narrowing the deficit to 21-13. However, errors soon compounded the Cowboys' woes. One such error came when Jalen Brooks slipped on a slant route, leading to the first of Dak Prescott's two interceptions for the night. The Saints capitalized on this mistake and added two more touchdowns before halftime, extending their lead to 35-16.
The Cowboys' offense showed promise, converting six of their 13 third-down attempts. Despite these efforts, the team struggled with red-zone efficiency, failing to capitalize on three crucial opportunities. Leading the rushing attack, Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn combined for an average of only 85 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks, unable to fill the void left by Tony Pollard.
The chemistry between Prescott and Lamb is still a work in progress. While the two connected on nine of Lamb’s 17 targets for an impressive 151 yards and a touchdown, further refinement is necessary.
“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 we were able to move the ball. I can’t say that we were pressing necessarily,” explained Prescott following the game.
This early season defeat highlights several areas for improvement, especially in the red zone, where the Cowboys fell short numerous times. “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, shouldering the blame.
With the Saints leading 35-16 at halftime, the Cowboys found themselves in a hole too deep to climb out of. Although the team managed to convert six third downs, the inability to convert these opportunities into points left them trailing. In contrast, the Saints converted five out of eight third-down attempts, effectively maintaining their momentum throughout the game.
Last season, the Cowboys were known for their explosive plays, managing 76 plays of 20 or more yards. This season, that burst seems to be missing, as the team has only managed four such plays through two games. This lack of big-play ability is a significant factor in their underwhelming performance.
“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 elaborated on the ongoing efforts to fine-tune his connection with Lamb.
Prescott’s passer rating stands at 81.4 through the first two games, reflecting the challenges the team has faced. His frustration was palpable, especially regarding his interceptions. “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 said.
As the Cowboys prepare for their next game against the Baltimore Ravens, the need to play cohesive and efficient football is critical. Prescott emphasized the importance of everyone doing their job and trusting each other, stating, “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' season is still young, but adjustments are essential if they hope to rebound from this early setback and compete at a higher level going forward.