ARLINGTON, Texas — A Rough Start for Cowboys in Home Opener
The Dallas Cowboys' highly anticipated home opener at AT&T Stadium turned into a disappointing affair, culminating in a 44-19 defeat to the New Orleans Saints. The game highlighted numerous issues that the Cowboys need to address if they hope to turn their season around.
The Saints wasted no time in asserting their dominance, scoring on their first six drives. In contrast, the Cowboys’ defense seemed outmatched from the outset. By halftime, the Saints had built a commanding 35-16 lead, leaving the Cowboys scrambling to find answers.
CeeDee Lamb provided one of the few bright spots for Dallas, catching a spectacular 65-yard touchdown pass. This play narrowed the deficit to 21-13, momentarily giving Cowboys fans a reason to cheer. However, inconsistencies plagued the Cowboys on both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Dak Prescott, who finished with a passer rating of 81.4 through the first two games of the season, noted the challenges faced during the game. "It was hard to say that we were pressing," Prescott commented. "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."
Despite Lamb's impressive performance, amassing 151 yards on nine receptions from 17 targets, the chemistry between Prescott and his No. 1 receiver is still developing. Jalen Brooks’ slip on a slant route led to Prescott’s first of two interceptions, further compounding the team’s issues.
Red-zone inefficiency was another glaring problem for the Cowboys, as they failed to capitalize on three crucial opportunities. "I just didn't convert in the red zone," Prescott admitted. "They didn’t throw anything we weren’t ready for. It’s on me."
The running game also struggled to make an impact. Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn were unable to adequately fill the void left by Tony Pollard, averaging only 85 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks of the season.
At key moments, the Cowboys were unable to execute effectively. They converted six of their 13 third-down attempts, while the Saints were successful on five out of eight attempts. Such disparity underscores the gap in performance between the two teams on Sunday.
The Cowboys’ offensive woes were not just confined to the ground. Compared to the last season's 76 plays of 20 or more yards, this season has seen only four such plays, demonstrating a troubling lack of explosive moments.
Prescott highlighted the need for better communication and decision-making moving forward. "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," he explained.
Reflecting on his performance, Prescott remained determined 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," he said. "I don’t want to say you have to be perfect, but everybody’s got to do their job and trust their job."
As Dallas prepares for their next game against the Baltimore Ravens, the focus will be on correcting these mistakes and finding cohesion both on offense and defense. Prescott voiced a commitment to leveraging his mobility more, saying, "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 sort out their issues quickly if they hope to stay competitive this season. With lessons learned from their home opener, the team must now turn these experiences into actionable improvements on the field.