The Dallas Cowboys' defense faced a rude awakening in their Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, suffering a 44-19 defeat—a stark contrast to their triumphant 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 1.
First-Half Onslaught
The Saints, led by quarterback Derek Carr, wasted no time in asserting their dominance. New Orleans scored a touchdown on each of their first six drives, including an 80-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara. The onslaught continued with a 70-yard play-action pass to Rashid Shaheed and a 57-yard screen pass, once again to Kamara. Kamara proved to be a relentless force, amassing 180 yards from scrimmage and scoring three touchdowns. In total, Dallas allowed 35 points in the first half, tying a franchise record for most points conceded in the first half of a game.
Dallas linebacker Eric Kendricks summed up the defensive struggles succinctly: "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels." The Cowboys' inability to halt the potent Saints' offense proved to be a critical factor in the lopsided result.
Historical Defeat
This game marked the second-largest home opener defeat under owner Jerry Jones, surpassed only by a 41-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000. Dallas's defense, seemingly impenetrable in Week 1 with six sacks and two interceptions, struggled mightily against the Saints, managing only one sack and one interception with a mere 17.6% quarterback pressure rate.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs didn't hold back when reflecting on the performance, calling it "unacceptable." He elaborated, "Yeah, it's not necessarily confusing, it's just you have to be on your toes. You have to be on your Ps and Qs because they can run it, play-action and then when they [are] passing the ball, they're max-protecting everybody. So we're not getting any [pass] rush. You're just out there just, you know, this is unacceptable. We ain't come to play today."
Adjustments Needed
The glaring defensive issues were not lost on Cowboys' star linebacker Micah Parsons. "We have to use our hands and feet. We got a guy like Kamara. We're not tackling well. We're arm-tackling. We're trying to pull a guy down. We got to be aggressive, we have to create penetration and do a much better job tackling," Parsons admitted.
Parsons also praised the Saints' strategic versatility: "They did a great job schematically. Everything was short. Everything was quick, and if it wasn't, it was max [protect], two-man routes. ... Instead of having a lineman block me in max protection with a chip, they sent a chip with a lineman and sent a running back to cut. I was going through a maze almost. I thought that was creative, a new way."
Looking Forward
The Cowboys defense clearly has areas to address as they move forward. Kendricks captured the room’s sentiment, stating, "I feel like you look around the locker you can sense it. Obviously everyone is disappointed. We didn't want that, especially at the home opener. The NFL will humble you like that. This isn't the first time I've been a part of that. We got to make a stand. We got to come back to work tomorrow. Obviously, let it hurt for a little bit. I think that's a good thing. Put it in our rearview and work toward the next."
Micah Parsons encapsulated the opportunity for growth following the defeat: "Everyone is going to say they did their job and everything was perfect right now, but the film tells all. I can't wait to see the film. I don't know who was out of what gap [in the run game]. I know for the guys when I turn the film on, I want to say 'No. 11 was giving his all.' That's all that matters. Then, we're going to continue that standard. I got a job. I owe these guys. I owe my family a certain level of ball. I don't think I helped to the best of my abilities today."
The Cowboys' early-season rollercoaster continues, and they must quickly address their defensive woes to stay competitive. As the season progresses, the resolve and adjustments made by the defense will undoubtedly shape the team's trajectory. For now, they must digest this "humble pie" and refocus on the challenges ahead.