The Dallas Cowboys faced a humbling defeat in their Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, falling 44-19 and experiencing one of their worst performances in recent memory. This significant loss came on the heels of a promising 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, a game where the Cowboys' defense was dominant, featuring six sacks and two interceptions.
Against the Saints, however, the Cowboys struggled mightily. New Orleans, led by quarterback Derek Carr, scored a touchdown on each of their first six drives, a testament to both their offensive prowess and Dallas's defensive shortcomings. Alvin Kamara was sensational, accumulating 180 yards from scrimmage and scoring three touchdowns, including a five-yard touchdown run at the end of an 80-yard drive.
First Half Struggles
The Cowboys allowed an astonishing 35 points in the first half, tying a franchise record for the most points conceded in the first half of a game. This poor performance made it the second-largest defeat in a home opener under the tenure of owner Jerry Jones. The defense that had looked so formidable against the Browns was nearly absent against the Saints, only managing one sack and one interception.
The pressure on the opposing quarterback was minimal, with the Cowboys achieving just a 17.6% quarterback pressure rate. Linebacker Eric Kendricks summarized the team's struggle succinctly: "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels."
Trouble on Defense
The frustration was palpable among the Cowboys' defensive players. Cornerback Trevon Diggs voiced his discontent, highlighting the complexity and challenge of facing the Saints' offense: "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."
Micah Parsons echoed these sentiments, focusing on the need for better tackling and aggressive play: "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."
Parsons also praised the Saints' offensive strategy, which included innovative blocking schemes that stymied the Cowboys' pass rush: "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."
Reflection and Resolve
In the aftermath of such a lopsided defeat, there was a clear sense of disappointment and determination within the Cowboys' locker room. Eric Kendricks noted the pervasive feeling of letdown among the players, particularly given the context of a home opener: "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."
Micah Parsons, reflecting on his own performance, emphasized accountability and the importance of setting a standard: "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]. I know 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."
The Cowboys will undoubtedly use this defeat as a learning experience, acknowledging their shortcomings and striving for improvement as they prepare for their next challenge. The team’s ability to rebound and address these issues will be crucial in determining their success as the season progresses.