ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys faced a sobering home opener, falling to the New Orleans Saints in a 44-19 rout. The defense was porous from the beginning, offering little resistance as the Saints capitalized on their first six drives, effectively putting the game out of reach early on.
CeeDee Lamb provided a brief spark with a stunning 65-yard touchdown reception, which narrowed the gap to 21-13. However, any hopes for a comeback were short-lived. A critical mistake followed as Jalen Brooks slipped on a slant route, resulting in Dak Prescott's first of two interceptions. The Saints capitalized on these mistakes, adding two more touchdowns before halftime and securing a commanding 35-16 lead at the break.
Offensive Struggles
The Cowboys were able to convert six out of their 13 third-down attempts, but they fell woefully short when it counted the most. The team failed to capitalize on three red-zone opportunities, a shortcoming that head coach Mike McCarthy will surely look to address. The ground game was ineffective, averaging just 85 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks. Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn struggled to fill the immense void left by Tony Pollard's absence.
The chemistry between Prescott and Lamb remains a work in progress. Despite connecting on nine of Lamb's 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown, Prescott's overall performance was inconsistent. His passer rating stands at a modest 81.4 through two games—a statistic that will need to improve if the Cowboys have any aspirations of postseason success.
Last season, the Cowboys boasted 76 plays of 20 or more yards. This season, they've only managed four, indicative of their struggles to generate big plays and sustain offensive momentum.
Under Pressure
Reflecting on the game, Prescott acknowledged the shortcomings but avoided placing blame on any single factor. "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," he stated.
Red-zone inefficiency was another critical issue. "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.
Communication will be key for the Cowboys moving forward. "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, highlighting the need for better synergy with Lamb.
Looking Forward
Under the weight of high expectations, Prescott remains committed to improving. "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 said, emphasizing his drive for perfection.
Prescott also noted the importance of everyone doing their job perfectly to achieve success. "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," he added.
As the Cowboys prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens in their next matchup, the focus will undoubtedly be on reinforcing their defense, honing their red-zone efficiency, and reigniting the chemistry between Prescott and Lamb. For Cowboys fans, the hope is that these adjustments translate into better results on the field, steering the team back on course after a rocky start to the season.