Dallas Cowboys Fall Short in Home Opener Against New Orleans Saints
ARLINGTON, Texas — In a disappointing home opener, the Dallas Cowboys were handed a resounding 44-19 defeat by the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys’ defense struggled to find answers as the Saints scored on their first six drives, putting the game out of reach early.
The Cowboys found themselves in a deep hole early on, with the Saints taking command and not looking back. The trouble started when Jalen Brooks slipped on a slant route, leading to Dak Prescott's first of two interceptions. The Saints capitalized on the opportunity, putting two more touchdowns on the board before halftime. By the end of the first half, the Saints were up 35-16.
The connection between Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb sparked some hope for the Cowboys. Lamb caught a spectacular 65-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the deficit to 21-13. Throughout the game, Prescott and Lamb connected on nine of Lamb’s 17 targets, contributing 151 yards and a touchdown to the team's effort. However, it was evident that the chemistry between Prescott and Lamb is still a work in progress.
The running game, a historical strength of the Cowboys, struggled to gain traction. With Tony Pollard out, the trio of Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn managed a meager average of 85 rushing yards per game over the first two weeks of the season. The inability to establish a strong ground game put more pressure on Prescott and the passing attack.
The Cowboys did show some efficiency on third downs, converting six of their 13 attempts, but the inability to capitalize on red-zone opportunities proved costly. Despite moving the ball effectively at times, they repeatedly came up short when it mattered most.
Prescott’s post-game comments reflected the frustration of falling short in crucial moments. "It was hard to say that we were pressing. 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. I can't say that we were pressing necessarily." He added, "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me."
Despite the struggles, Prescott remained optimistic about the team's resolve and future performance. "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," Prescott emphasized.
Reflecting on the loss, Prescott said, "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." His self-critical nature and high standards underscore his commitment to leading the team through turbulent times.
Moving forward, Prescott recognized the need for the team to trust each other and execute their responsibilities with precision. "I don't want to say you have to be perfect, but everybody’s got to do their job and trust their job. 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," he said.
As the Cowboys prepare for their next game against the Baltimore Ravens, they will need to address the gaps that led to their defeat. In a league where every game matters, they can't afford to let opportunities slip away.