ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys' home opener turned into a disheartening spectacle as they succumbed to a 44-19 defeat against the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys' defensive struggles were glaring, with the Saints capitalizing on their first six drives.
The game showed a glimmer of hope when CeeDee Lamb hauled in a 65-yard touchdown pass, which helped the Cowboys narrow the deficit to 21-13. However, the momentum was short-lived. A critical moment occurred when Jalen Brooks slipped on a slant route, which led to Dak Prescott's first of two interceptions.
The Saints extended their dominance before halftime, tacking on two more touchdowns. By the end of the first half, the scoreboard read 35-16 in favor of New Orleans. The Cowboys' third-down efficiency reflected a mixed performance as they converted six of their 13 attempts. In contrast, the Saints were more effective, converting five out of their eight third-down opportunities.
The Cowboys' inefficiency was also evident in the red zone, where they failed to capitalize on three opportunities. Their rushing game, averaging 85 yards per game through the first two weeks, struggled to make an impact. With Tony Pollard sidelined, Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn failed to fill the void effectively.
The chemistry between Prescott and Lamb appeared promising yet unrefined, as they connected on nine of Lamb's 17 targets, resulting in 151 yards and a touchdown. Despite these statistics, Prescott's overall performance was deemed below par with a passer rating of 81.4 through two games. The lack of explosive plays is evident as well, with only four plays of 20 or more yards this season, a paltry number compared to the 76 such plays last season.
Post-Game Reflections
Prescott acknowledged the offensive struggles and their inability to match the Saints' scoring pace. "It was hard to say that we were pressing," he admitted. "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."
Reflecting on missed opportunities, Prescott took accountability for the red-zone inefficiencies. "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me," he said.
Prescott further elaborated on the ongoing adjustments with his receivers, stating, "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."
High Standards, Hard Lessons
Despite the defeat, Prescott maintained high expectations for himself. "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 confessed.
He also emphasized the importance of every team member doing their part without the necessity for perfection. "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," Prescott added.
As the Cowboys look to rebound from their early-season woes, they'll face the formidable Baltimore Ravens in their next matchup, a challenge that will test their resilience and adaptability. The team and its fans hope for a turnaround in performance to avoid another disappointing chapter in what has already been a rocky start to the season.