ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys' home opener turned into a crushing 44-19 defeat against the New Orleans Saints, exposing significant vulnerabilities on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys' defense was unable to stymie the Saints' offensive onslaught, allowing scores on the first six drives of the game.
CeeDee Lamb emerged as a bright spot amid the gloom, showcasing his prodigious talent with a spectacular 65-yard touchdown catch. This effort narrowed the deficit to 21-13, offering a glimmer of hope. However, any momentum gained was short-lived. Jalen Brooks' slip on a crucial slant route resulted in Dak Prescott's first interception, setting the stage for another Saints' touchdown before halftime.
By the half, the Saints commanded a resounding 35-16 lead. The Cowboys' inability to convert red-zone opportunities was glaring, squandering three prime chances to tighten the scoreline. Conversion on third downs also highlighted the disparity between the teams, with the Cowboys making six of 13 attempts while the Saints converted five of eight.
Offensive Struggles
The Cowboys' offense continues to struggle to find its rhythm through the initial two weeks of the season. Averaging just 85 rushing yards per game, the absence of Tony Pollard looms large. Neither Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, nor Deuce Vaughn has managed to effectively fill the void left by Pollard's departure.
Quarterback Dak Prescott has yet to hit his stride. The chemistry between Prescott and Lamb is still developing, evidenced by their nine completions out of 17 targets for a total of 151 yards and one touchdown. Speaking about the offensive challenges, 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 were able to move the ball."
The struggles have translated into a passer rating of 81.4 for Prescott over the couple of games, with his frustration evident. "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 admitted.
Defensive Woes
The defensive unit's shortcomings have been equally concerning. Allowing the Saints to score on the first six drives underscored a lack of effective resistance. Despite some valiant individual efforts, the team failed to disrupt the Saints' offensive flow, culminating in a lopsided scoreline by game's end.
Nonetheless, Prescott took accountability for missed opportunities in the red zone, acknowledging, "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me."
Future Adjustments
Looking forward, the Cowboys will need to make adjustments to turn their season around. Communication between Prescott and Lamb will be pivotal, as Prescott explained, "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 also emphasized the importance of execution and trust within the team dynamics. "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 elaborated.
The Cowboys' offensive and defensive units must step up if they aim to compete with robust teams like their upcoming opponents, the Baltimore Ravens. With the season still young, the time is ripe for the Cowboys to reassess and recalibrate, balancing the highs and lows as they strive to convert potential into performance.