In a game that left Dallas fans with more questions than answers, the Cowboys' defense crumbled under the relentless pressure of the New Orleans Saints, suffering a crushing 44-19 defeat in their Week 2 matchup. This followed their strong performance in Week 1, where they secured a 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Saints, led by quarterback Derek Carr, anchored their offensive dominance with surgical precision, scoring touchdowns on each of their first six drives. Notably, Alvin Kamara was a significant thorn in the Cowboys' side, amassing 180 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. One particularly spectacular play saw Kamara capping an 80-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
The Cowboys' defense was overwhelmed, allowing 35 points in the first half—tying a franchise record for most points conceded in the first half of a game. Eric Kendricks, reflecting on the defensive woes, admitted, "For sure humbling, can't give up big plays and start the game off like that. Got us on our heels."
Adding to the embarrassment, this game marked the second-largest home opener defeat under owner Jerry Jones. Despite starting the season with six sacks and two interceptions against the Browns, Dallas managed only one sack and one interception against the Saints. Their pressure rate on the quarterback fell dramatically to 17.6%.
Defense Struggles to Find Its Footing
Trevon Diggs did not mince words when he described the defense's struggles, 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."
Micah Parsons echoed a similar sentiment, emphasizing the need for fundamental improvement. "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."
A Creative Challenge
Parsons also highlighted how the Saints' offensive strategy further complicated 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."
The defeat, especially in front of their home crowd, was a sobering experience for the Cowboys. Kendricks provided insight into the team's locker room atmosphere post-game. "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 and Moving Forward
For Parsons, the film session would be an opportunity to learn and grow. "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 Cowboys now face the challenge of regrouping and addressing their defensive vulnerabilities. With tangible areas for improvement and a locker room brimming with determination, Dallas will look to bounce back from this humbling experience and strive for better performances in the weeks to come.