Dallas Cowboys Struggling to Find Rhythm as Miscommunications Plague Offense
In Week 2, the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive struggles were on full display during their home opener against the New Orleans Saints. Star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott experienced critical miscommunications that contributed to a frustrating 44-19 loss. Despite their off-season efforts to build chemistry, these errors underscore a concerning issue for the Cowboys moving forward.
The misalignment between Lamb and Prescott was particularly evident in the second quarter, when Prescott aimed for Lamb in the end zone on a slot fade route. The result was a missed opportunity and a subsequent 38-yard field goal by kicker Brandon Aubrey, putting the Cowboys behind with a score of 14-6. Reflecting on the mishap, Lamb admitted, "It's all about getting on the same page as your quarterback being a receiver... For me, it's just making sure that I'm available for him. Whatever I got to do to be open, I'm going to do that." He attributed the mistake to missing practice time with Prescott during training camp.
Prescott echoed Lamb’s sentiments, stressing the importance of continuous communication. "Just continuing to communicate each and every day that we're in here, whether it's the film, whether it's something at practice. Certain routes to make sure that some of those mistakes don't happen again," he said.
Owner and manager Jerry Jones, whose leadership has been a cornerstone for the Dallas franchise, faces mounting pressure as the Cowboys attempt to rectify these on-field issues. With a run game that averages just 85 yards per game and stands 25th in the league, the team has struggled to create a balanced offense. Their 3.7 yards per attempt rank them at 26th in the NFL, indicating a glaring need for improvement in their ground game.
The running back committee, consisting of Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn, has yet to find a rhythm. These challenges place even more responsibility on Prescott and Lamb to deliver through the air. Despite these struggles, both players demonstrated their prowess last season, with Lamb leading the NFL with 135 receptions and Prescott topping the league with 36 passing touchdowns in 2023.
Against the Saints, Prescott's difficulties were further compounded by an interception to Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu. Prescott also failed to connect with Lamb on any of his three vertical route attempts. The missed connections between Prescott and Lamb are particularly striking, given their successful collaboration in the previous season, which saw them link up for 26 completions and 628 receiving yards on vertical routes.
Head coach Mike McCarthy highlighted the duo’s off-season efforts to strengthen their connection. "Our guys have done a really good job, especially away from here in the offseason, the summertime of spending that time together," McCarthy noted. However, translating these efforts into game-day success remains a challenge.
Looking ahead, the Cowboys are set to face the Baltimore Ravens, who have notably struggled with their pass defense. The Ravens allow the most passing yards per game at 257.0 and have a 68.4% success rate on targets to the slot. This matchup could provide an opportunity for Prescott and Lamb to rediscover their chemistry, as Lamb has led the NFL in slot receiving yards for two consecutive years.
Prescott remains optimistic about overcoming these hurdles. "We can hold some windows longer. I can anticipate a little bit better. I think once you get that going a little bit more, I think that’s just where the red zone will take off," he said. He understands that red-zone efficiency is crucial, acknowledging, "We were able to move the ball last week. Touchdowns were the problem."
Lamb, who signed a lucrative four-year, $136 million extension before training camp in 2023, remains confident in his abilities and future performance. "That's just only the beginning. Everything that I've trained for in the offseason is going to come to life. I have no doubt about it," he declared.
As the Cowboys look to rebound from their recent defeat, the focus will undoubtedly be on cleaning up the miscommunications and turning yardage into touchdowns. The upcoming game against the Ravens provides a pivotal moment for Prescott, Lamb, and the entire Dallas offense to recalibrate and demonstrate their potential on a big stage.