Dallas Cowboys Stumble in Home Opener Against New Orleans Saints
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided home opener, suffering a 44-19 defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints.
The Cowboys' defense, which has been a point of concern, allowed the Saints to score on their first six drives. This early hole was too deep to climb out of, despite a few flashes of offensive brilliance. One such moment came courtesy of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who electrified the crowd with a 65-yard touchdown reception, narrowing the deficit to 21-13.
Unfortunately, mistakes continued to pile up for Dallas. Jalen Brooks' slip on a slant route led to Dak Prescott’s first interception of the game, a costly error that contributed to the Saints adding two more touchdowns before halftime. By the break, New Orleans held a commanding 35-16 lead.
The Cowboys managed to convert six of their 13 third-down attempts, a statistic that reflects a mixed performance. Meanwhile, the Saints were efficient, converting five of their eight third-down tries. Dallas also failed to capitalize on three red-zone opportunities, a glaring issue that prevented them from staying competitive in the contest.
The struggles continued on the ground as well. With Tony Pollard sidelined, Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn were unable to make up for his absence, contributing to the team averaging just 85 rushing yards per game over the first two weeks of the season.
One of the more pressing concerns for the Cowboys is the chemistry, or lack thereof, between Prescott and Lamb. Although the duo connected nine times out of Lamb's 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown, the connection still seemed a work in progress. Prescott, who has had an uneven start to the season, registered a passer rating of 81.4 through the first two games.
Adding to the offensive woes, the Cowboys have only managed four plays of 20 or more yards this season, a stark contrast to last year's 76 such plays. This lack of explosive capability has hampered their ability to mount significant scoring drives.
Reflecting on the game, Prescott noted, "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."
He added, "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me." This acknowledgment speaks volumes about the mindset of the Cowboys' leader as he takes personal responsibility for missed opportunities.
Communication has been another hurdle for Dallas. "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 explained, addressing the issues between him and Lamb.
Prescott remains optimistic despite the setbacks. "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 remarked.
In an effort to improve, Prescott plans on using his mobility more effectively. "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."
As the Cowboys look ahead to their next game against the Baltimore Ravens, they'll need to tighten up on both sides of the ball. The path forward requires better execution, sharper communication, and a return to fundamentals to turn their season around. The silent stands of AT&T Stadium reflect the urgency for the Cowboys to address these issues swiftly if they hope to contend in a competitive league.