The Dallas Cowboys experienced a humbling defeat in their Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, falling 44-19. After a triumphant 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, the Cowboys seemed unprepared for the offensive onslaught of the Saints.
Saints' Offensive Mastery
New Orleans, under the leadership of quarterback Derek Carr, executed with precision, scoring a touchdown on each of their first six drives. One standout moment was an 80-yard drive that concluded with a five-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara. Kamara's performance was stellar, amassing 180 yards from scrimmage and scoring three touchdowns.
Cowboys' Defensive Struggles
The Cowboys’ defense struggled mightily, allowing 35 points in the first half alone. This tied a franchise record for the most points conceded in the first half of a game and marked the second-largest home opener defeat under owner Jerry Jones. The defense's inability to stop the Saints was encapsulated in comments from several players. "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels," Eric Kendricks remarked.
While the Cowboys' defense boasted an impressive six sacks and two interceptions in Week 1, they could only muster one sack and one interception against the Saints. Their quarterback pressure rate dropped to a mere 17.6%. Trevon Diggs voiced his frustration, stating, "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."
Missed Tackles and Defensive Schemes
Micah Parsons identified tackling as a significant issue, emphasizing the need for more 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," he said. Parsons also noted the challenges posed by the Saints' offensive schemes, which relied on quick, short plays and extensive max protection. "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," he added.
Locker Room Reflections
The mood in the Cowboys' locker room reflected the disappointment and resolve to improve. Eric Kendricks described the atmosphere, "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."
Reflecting on his performance, Parsons expressed a commitment to doing better. "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," he admitted.
This loss underscores the challenges the Cowboys face moving forward. With a mix of tactical adjustments, improved tackling, and maintaining a high level of individual performance, they must regroup to turn their season around.