In a game that left fans at AT&T Stadium stunned, the Dallas Cowboys experienced an uncharacteristic thrashing by the New Orleans Saints, culminating in a 44-19 loss. After a promising start to their season with a 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, the Cowboys were quickly brought down to earth in their Week 2 matchup.
The Saints, orchestrated by quarterback Derek Carr, displayed an offensive masterclass by scoring touchdowns on each of their first six drives. This relentless attack included a remarkable 80-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara. Kamara was the standout player, racking up 180 yards from scrimmage and finding the end zone three times.
Defensively, Dallas was overwhelmed from the onset, conceding 35 points in the first half alone, tying a franchise record for the most points allowed in the first half of a game. This performance marked the second-largest home opener defeat under the ownership of Jerry Jones, underlining the severity of the debacle.
Linebacker Eric Kendricks encapsulated the team's sentiment post-game, remarking, "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels."
Defensive Struggles
Comparing their defensive stats from Week 1 to Week 2, the Cowboys' performance saw a significant drop. After achieving six sacks and two interceptions against the Browns, the Cowboys could only muster one sack and one interception against the Saints. Additionally, their quarterback pressure rate plummeted to 17.6%, further highlighting their struggles to disrupt Carr and the Saints' offense.
Trevon Diggs did not hold back his disappointment, "Unacceptable. 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."
Breakdown in Execution
The defensive lapses were compounded by poor tackling, particularly when dealing with Kamara. "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," said linebacker Micah Parsons, underscoring the fundamentals that were missing from the Cowboys' defensive playbook.
Parsons also praised the Saints' offensive strategizing, "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."
Locker Room Reflections
The post-game atmosphere in the Cowboys' locker room was one of disappointment yet resolve. "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," noted Kendricks.
Despite the setbacks, the Cowboys are determined to learn from this game. Parsons expressed this sentiment clearly, "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]. 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."
As the Cowboys look to regroup and focus on the upcoming weeks, this loss to the Saints serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and unpredictability of the NFL. With the right adjustments and a renewed focus, Dallas has the talent and leadership to bounce back from this disappointing performance.