ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys' much-anticipated home opener turned into a disheartening rout as they suffered a 44-19 defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. The defensive struggles were evident as the Cowboys' defense allowed the Saints to find the end zone on their first six drives, setting a tone the home team could not overcome.
The Cowboys found themselves chasing the game from the outset. CeeDee Lamb's brilliant 65-yard touchdown catch brought some hope, narrowing the deficit to 21-13, but mistakes and missed opportunities plagued Dallas. Jalen Brooks’ slip on a slant route resulted in Dak Prescott's first of two interceptions, a critical moment that underscored the team’s woes.
"It was hard to say that we were pressing,” Prescott reflected postgame. “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."
The Saints were unforgiving, adding two more touchdowns before halftime and deepening the Cowboys' misery with a 35-16 lead. The statistics highlighted the disparity in execution – while the Cowboys converted six of their 13 third-down attempts, the Saints were successful on 62.5% of their third downs, converting five out of eight. This ability to sustain drives proved critical.
Dallas’ offensive inefficiency was glaring in the red zone, where they failed to capitalize on three opportunities. Prescott himself admitted the shortcomings: "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me."
New playmakers like Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn were unable to fill the void left by Tony Pollard, who departed for the Tennessee Titans in free agency. The Cowboys have averaged just 85 rushing yards per game through two weeks, a far cry from last season's more potent ground attack.
The chemistry between Prescott and Lamb is still a work in progress. The duo connected on nine of Lamb's 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown. However, those numbers weren't enough to shift the momentum. Prescott acknowledged this, emphasizing the need for clean execution: "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."
Despite a passer rating of 81.4 through two games, Prescott is looking to improve: "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."
The necessity for big plays is evident. Last season, the Cowboys had 76 plays of 20 or more yards; this season, they’ve managed only four. Prescott noted: "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."
Succumbing to the Saints emphasized the need for a significant turnaround. The Cowboys will need to address these execution issues as they prepare for their next game against the Baltimore Ravens. The season is still young, but the urgency for improvement is clear.
The Cowboys' offensive makeup and defensive resilience will be tested again, and adjustments are non-negotiable if they hope to avoid a repeat of these early struggles. The team and their fans will be keenly watching how they respond to this wake-up call, seeking a more cohesive performance in the weeks to come.