The Dallas Cowboys endured a humbling defeat in their Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, staggering under a 44-19 loss that exposed glaring deficiencies in their defense.
After an encouraging 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, the Cowboys were poised to carry that momentum forward. However, the Saints, with quarterback Derek Carr at the helm, quickly dismantled those hopes, scoring touchdowns on each of their first six drives. Reflecting on the early setbacks, linebacker Eric Kendricks acknowledged, "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels."
Kamara's Dominance
Running back Alvin Kamara emerged as the central figure in New Orleans' offensive explosion. Kamara not only scored a five-yard touchdown to cap an impressive 80-yard drive but also amassed a staggering 180 yards from scrimmage, contributing three touchdowns in the process. His performance left the Cowboys' defense scrambling, struggling to mount any meaningful resistance.
Linebacker Micah Parsons pinpointed the defensive shortcomings, placing significant emphasis on tackling. "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 said.
First-Half Collapse
Compounding the Cowboys' misery, they conceded 35 points in the first half, tying a franchise record for the most points allowed in the first half of a game. This catastrophic performance marked the second-largest home opener defeat under owner Jerry Jones, raising questions about the team’s readiness and defensive strategy.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs expressed his frustration at the defensive coordination, "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."
Defensive Struggles
The contrast between the Cowboys' defensive performances in Week 1 and Week 2 could not have been starker. In their opening game against the Browns, Dallas recorded six sacks and two interceptions. However, against the Saints, the defense managed only one sack and one interception, with a notably lower quarterback pressure rate of 17.6%.
Parsons noted the strategic adjustments made by the Saints, which stymied the Cowboys' defensive efforts. "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."
Reflections and Moving Forward
The loss was plainly demoralizing for the Cowboys, with Kendricks emphasizing the emotional toll. "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 echoed sentiments of accountability and dedication to improvement, anticipating a close review of the game footage to identify and rectify errors. "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."
As the Cowboys seek to bounce back from this harrowing defeat, the focus will be on addressing these defensive flaws and harnessing the lessons learned to better their performance in the weeks ahead.