In a somber wake-up call during their Week 2 home opener, the Dallas Cowboys found themselves on the wrong end of a 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys' defense, which was formidable in their Week 1 triumph over the Cleveland Browns, could not replicate that performance on Sunday.
Early Onslaught by the Saints
The tone for the game was set early as the Saints, led by quarterback Derek Carr, became an unstoppable force, scoring a touchdown on each of their first six drives. This relentless offensive onslaught saw an 80-yard drive culminated by a five-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara. Kamara was a thorn in the Cowboys' side throughout the game, amassing 180 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
Cowboys’ Defensive Struggles
The Cowboys’ defense was left reeling, allowing 35 points in the first half—a performance that tied a franchise record for the most points conceded in the first half of a game. This defeat marked the second-largest home opener loss under the tenure of owner Jerry Jones.
Dallas' defensive stats starkly contrasted with their Week 1 display. After sacking the Browns’ quarterback six times and securing two interceptions, the Cowboys managed only one sack and one interception against the Saints. Their quarterback pressure rate dwindled to 17.6%, significantly lower compared to their previous outing.
Player Reactions
Defensive players were candid about the humbling experience. Eric Kendricks stated, "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels." Trevon Diggs expressed his frustration, "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, known for his aggressive play, emphasized the need for better tackling and penetration, particularly against a player of Kamara’s caliber. "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 remarked.
He also acknowledged the Saints' strategic approach, stating, "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."
A Locker Room Seeking Redemption
The atmosphere in the locker room post-game was one of disappointment but also a resolve to bounce back. Eric Kendricks felt the collective weight of the loss, saying, "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."
Parsons, looking for accountability and improvement, added, "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 Dallas Cowboys now face the challenge of regrouping and addressing the shortcomings exposed by the Saints. With a resilient mindset and an understanding of the areas that need improvement, they aim to turn this harsh lesson into a stepping stone for the games ahead.