The Dallas Cowboys' defense experienced a sobering defeat in their Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, who handed them a heavy 44-19 loss. Just a week after securing an impressive 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns, the Cowboys found themselves on the receiving end of an offensive blitz headed by Saints quarterback Derek Carr.
The Saints wasted no time establishing dominance, scoring a touchdown on each of their first six drives. Notably, an 80-yard drive culminated in a five-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara, showcasing the Saints' offensive efficiency. Kamara’s performance was nothing short of spectacular as he amassed 180 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns, leaving the Cowboys' defense scrambling to contain him.
The magnitude of the defensive collapse was stark, with Dallas conceding 35 points in the first half alone, tying a franchise record for most points conceded in the first half of a game. This performance made it the second-largest home opener defeat under the ownership of Jerry Jones. Against the Saints, the Cowboys’ defense, which had six sacks and two interceptions in Week 1, managed only one sack and one interception. Their quarterback pressure rate fell to a mere 17.6%.
The players candidly acknowledged the shortcomings in their defensive execution. Eric Kendricks voiced the collective sentiment in the locker room, stating, "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels." The sentiment of disappointment and the need for improvement was shared by his teammates.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs expressed his frustration, remarking, "Unacceptable. Yeah, it's not necessarily confusing, it's just you have to be on your toes. You have to be on your Ps and Qs because they can run it, play-action and then when they [are] passing the ball, they're max-protecting everybody. So we're not getting any [pass] rush. You're just out there just, you know, this is unacceptable. We ain't come to play today."
One of the key aspects that failed Dallas was their tackling, particularly against a versatile running back like Kamara. Linebacker Micah Parsons pinpointed the issue: "We have to use our hands and feet. We got a guy like Kamara. We're not tackling well. We're arm-tackling. We're trying to pull a guy down. We got to be aggressive, we have to create penetration and do a much better job tackling."
Parsons also praised the Saints' strategic approach, noting the challenges it posed. "They did a great job schematically. Everything was short. Everything was quick, and if it wasn't, it was max [protect], two-man routes. ... Instead of having a lineman block me in max protection with a chip, they sent a chip with a lineman and sent a running back to cut. I was going through a maze almost. I thought that was creative, a new way."
The sense of disappointment in the locker room was palpable as Kendricks summed up the players' morale: "I feel like you look around the locker [room] you can sense it. Obviously, everyone is disappointed. We didn't want that, especially at the home opener. The NFL will humble you like that. This isn't the first time I've been a part of that. We got to make a stand. We got to come back to work tomorrow. Obviously, let it hurt for a little bit. I think that's a good thing. Put it in our rearview and work toward the next."
For Parsons, the focus was on personal accountability. "Everyone is going to say they did their job and everything was perfect right now, but the film tells all. I can't wait to see the film. I don't know who was out of what gap [in the run game]. I know for the guys when I turn the film on, I want to say 'No. 11 was giving his all.' That's all that matters. Then, we're going to continue that standard. I got a job. I owe these guys. I owe my family a certain level of ball. I don't think I helped to the best of my abilities today."
The defeat to the Saints serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for the Cowboys. It underscores the importance of relentless effort and consistent execution, especially on the defensive end. As the season progresses, the team will need to address these shortcomings to capitalize on their potential and bounce back stronger.