Disappointing Home Opener for Cowboys Against Saints
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys' much-anticipated home opener ended in disillusionment with a 44-19 defeat against the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys' defense stumbled early, allowing the Saints to score on their first six drives, setting the tone for a challenging evening.
Despite a notable 65-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb, which narrowed the deficit to 21-13, the Cowboys struggled to keep pace. With the Saints capitalizing on every opportunity, including two additional touchdowns before halftime, the deficit grew insurmountable. By halftime, the visitors led 35-16.
Key moments of the game included Prescott's two interceptions, one of which stemmed from Jalen Brooks slipping on a slant route. This mishap highlighted the ongoing chemistry issues in the Cowboys' offense. "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 regarding synchronization struggles with his receivers. "We have to have those communications to substitute for the time missed."
Efforts in converting third downs were relatively comparable with the Cowboys converting six of their 13 attempts, while the Saints managed five out of eight. However, the Cowboys' inability to capitalize on three red-zone opportunities was glaring. Prescott took responsibility, stating, "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me."
Evident deficiencies in the Cowboys' rushing game further hindered their performance. Averaging just 85 rushing yards per game over the first two weeks, Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn were unable to fill the void left by Tony Pollard. Such shortcomings made the offense one-dimensional and easier for the Saints to defend.
While Prescott and Lamb connected on nine of Lamb's 17 targets for an impressive 151 yards and a touchdown, the chemistry between the quarterback and his star receiver still appeared to be developing. Reflecting on his performance, Prescott noted, "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."
Through two games, Prescott's passer rating stands at 81.4, a figure indicative of the team's offensive struggles. Last season, the Cowboys boasted 76 plays of 20 or more yards; this season, they have mustered only four, further exemplifying their current offensive inefficacy.
Looking at the broader picture, Prescott emphasized the importance of trust and execution. "I don't want to say you have to be perfect, but everybody's got to do their job and trust their job," he said. He acknowledged the need for flexibility in his play, adding, "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 are now focused on regrouping as they prepare for their next challenge against the Baltimore Ravens. Both the coaching staff and players realize the adjustments needed to turn their season around. While the home opener was a tough pill to swallow, the Cowboys remain hopeful of making the necessary corrections and moving forward with a stronger performance.