The Dallas Cowboys' defense faltered significantly in their Week 2 clash with the New Orleans Saints, enduring a staggering 44-19 defeat. The performance was a far cry from their impressive showing in Week 1, where they surged to a commanding 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
The Saints were led by quarterback Derek Carr, who engineered an offense that found the end zone on each of their first six drives. An 80-yard drive, culminating in a five-yard touchdown run from Alvin Kamara, highlighted their relentless march down the field. Kamara, showcasing his versatility and skills, amassed 180 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns in a stellar individual performance.
Defensive Struggles
The Cowboys' defense seemed overwhelmed from the onset, conceding a whopping 35 points in the first half alone. This total tied a franchise record for the most points given up in the opening half of a game. It also marked their second-largest home opener defeat under the ownership of Jerry Jones.
Linebacker Eric Kendricks captured the humbling sentiment in the locker room: “For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels.”
In Week 1, Dallas' defense was a formidable force, recording six sacks and two interceptions. However, against the Saints, the pressure was markedly reduced, resulting in only one sack and one interception. Their quarterback pressure rate plummeted to 17.6%, a stark contrast to their previous performance.
Looking for Explanations
The defensive unit struggled particularly against the versatile Kamara, prompting linebacker Micah Parsons to address the tackling issues: “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.”
Cornerback Trevon Diggs also offered his perspective on the game's defensive shortcomings: “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.”
The Saints' offensive strategy limited Dallas' chances to apply pressure on the quarterback. Parsons detailed the intricacies, 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.”
Lessons Learned
As the dust settled on a bruising defeat, the Dallas locker room was a place of introspection and resolve. Kendricks conveyed the mood poignantly: “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.”
Despite the loss, Parsons emphasized the importance of accountability and maintaining high standards: “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 move forward, they will need to reconcile the lessons from this humbling defeat and refocus their efforts to secure victories in future matchups. The raw talent and potential are evident. However, translating that into consistent, disciplined play each week remains the challenge.