In a game that will linger in the minds of Dallas Cowboys fans, the defense couldn't hold the floodgates shut as the New Orleans Saints delivered a crushing 44-19 defeat in Week 2. For a team that had kicked off the season with a resounding 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns, the performance felt like a sharp descent into chaos.
A Nightmarish Start
The Cowboys defense was caught on its heels from the start, unable to cope with the Saints' relentlessly tactical offense led by quarterback Derek Carr. The Saints scored a touchdown on each of their first six drives, laying the groundwork for a dominant performance that included an 80-yard drive finished by a five-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara.
Kamara emerged as the linchpin of the Saints' offensive assault, contributing a staggering 180 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. By halftime, Dallas had surrendered 35 points, tying a franchise record for the most points conceded in the first half of a game. This marked the second-largest home opener defeat during Jerry Jones' tenure as owner.
Defensive Struggles
Reflecting on the game, Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks didn't mince words: "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels." The Cowboys' defense, which had recorded six sacks and two interceptions in their Week 1 victory over the Browns, appeared disjointed and ineffective against the Saints. They managed only one sack and one interception, and a dismal 17.6% quarterback pressure rate.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs expressed his frustration with the team's performance: "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."
Focus on Fundamentals
Micah Parsons highlighted the critical issues in the team's defensive approach: "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 recognized the strategic excellence of the Saints' game plan: "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."
After the Defeat
The locker room mood post-game was somber. Kendricks captured the sentiment well: "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."
Parsons echoed similar thoughts on accountability and resilience: "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."
For the Cowboys, the defeat highlights urgent areas needing improvement. The team now faces the challenge of regrouping, focusing on fundamental defensive skills, and bettering their tactical coordination. As the season moves forward, this game serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of football and the relentless quest for excellence.