Disappointing Home Opener for Cowboys Against Saints
The Dallas Cowboys endured a rough start to their home season, suffering a heavy 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints at Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys, who trailed 35-16 at halftime, struggled on both sides of the ball, leading to a comprehensive defeat.
The Cowboys' defense was unable to impede the Saints' offensive machine, conceding scores on the Saints' first six drives. This early dominance by New Orleans set the tone for the rest of the game, leaving the Cowboys perpetually on the back foot.
One of the few bright spots for Dallas came when CeeDee Lamb caught a stunning 65-yard touchdown pass. This remarkable play brought the Cowboys closer, narrowing the deficit to 21-13 momentarily. Despite this glimmer of hope, the Saints quickly reasserted control by adding two more touchdowns before halftime.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, mistakes lurked around every corner. Jalen Brooks slipped on a critical slant route, which led to Dak Prescott's first of two interceptions in the game. These pivotal errors contributed significantly to the mounting pressure on the team.
Prescott reflected on the dynamics of the game, stating, "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 were able to move the ball. I can't say that we were pressing necessarily."
While the Cowboys managed to convert six of their 13 third-down attempts, they regrettably failed to capitalize on three crucial red-zone opportunities. Conversely, the Saints were highly efficient, converting five out of eight third downs, a testament to their offensive mastery.
The Saints' formidable offense was complemented by a marauding defense, leaving little room for Dallas to maneuver. The Cowboys' average of 85 rushing yards per game across the first two weeks of the season highlights a significant area of concern, especially in the absence of Tony Pollard. Running backs Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn have so far been unable to adequately fill the void left by Pollard.
The chemistry between Prescott and Lamb, although promising, remains a work in progress. Despite connecting on nine of Lamb's 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown, there were moments where miscommunication was evident. Prescott elaborated, "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, who had a passer rating of 81.4 through the first two games, acknowledged personal areas of improvement. "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.
The offensive struggles of the Cowboys are further underscored by a stark statistic: last season, they recorded 76 plays of 20 yards or more, but this season, they have achieved only four such plays so far. This indicates a lack of explosive plays, an aspect that was a hallmark of their previous successes.
Prescott emphasized his high personal standards and the need to execute better under pressure. "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."
Addressing the necessity of confidence and trust within the team, Prescott noted, "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."
Looking ahead, the Cowboys will face the Baltimore Ravens in their next game, hoping to rectify the flaws visible in their current strategies and executions. Improvements in both offensive fluidity and defensive rigidity will be crucial if they are to bounce back from this early season setback.