ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys faced a tough challenge in their home opener, suffering a heavy 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints. From the outset, the Cowboys' defense struggled, allowing the Saints to score on each of their first six drives.
CeeDee Lamb managed to bring some hope to the Cowboys with a spectacular 65-yard touchdown catch, narrowing the deficit to 21-13. However, missteps soon followed. Jalen Brooks slipped on a slant route, resulting in Dak Prescott's first of two interceptions, giving the Saints an opportunity they didn't waste. By halftime, New Orleans added two more touchdowns, extending their lead to 35-16.
Key Performances and Missed Opportunities
While the Cowboys showed some efficiency on third downs, converting six of their 13 attempts, they struggled to capitalize in the red zone, failing on three crucial occasions. On the other side, New Orleans converted five out of their eight third-down attempts, maintaining control of the game's momentum.
The Cowboys have averaged just 85 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks of the season, with Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn unable to fill the void left by Tony Pollard's absence. Despite highlighting weaknesses, there were moments to build on, particularly the evolving chemistry between Prescott and Lamb. The duo connected on nine of Lamb's 17 targets for an impressive 151 yards and a touchdown. Even so, Prescott’s passer rating stood at a modest 81.4 after two games, a stat he'll undoubtedly look to improve.
Analysis from the Quarterback
Reflecting on the game, Prescott shared his thoughts on the offensive struggles and the pressure to perform in tandem with a struggling defense. "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 we were able to move the ball. I can't say that we were pressing necessarily," Prescott commented.
Prescott also took responsibility for the team's issues 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." Transparency about missed opportunities and miscommunications also came up, as Prescott noted, "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."
Addressing Expectations
Despite the setbacks, Prescott remains confident in his abilities and strives for improvement. "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. Prescott emphasized the importance of everyone doing their part and hinted at a potential adjustment in his play style, adding, "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."
The Cowboys will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge against the Baltimore Ravens. As the team works to address its issues, both on offense and defense, there is still time to turn things around early in the season. With Prescott and Lamb showing flashes of brilliance, the team will be looking to build on these positives and strive for more consistent performance in the coming weeks.