Dallas City News

As good as things felt last week for the Dallas Cowboys, things went equally bad for them this week after being smoked 44-19 by the New Orleans Saints. It was a smack in the face we weren’t expecting as there weren’t many things to be excited about in this one. Here are ten thoughts on this shockingly underwhelming loss to the Saints.

1. What happened to the defense?

It’s hard to understand how a unit that looked so fantastic last week could get stomped this week. Last week, the defense only surrendered 230 yards, but against the Saints, it was an absolute nightmare. The Cowboys’ defense gave up 44 points and 432 yards. 35 points came in the first half alone, tying a franchise-worst record for the most first-half points allowed by a Cowboys’ defense. The Saints’ offense scored a touchdown on their first six possessions of the game. The Cowboys didn’t get a stop until the fourth quarter. There will be many questions for new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer after being put on a pedestal last week.

2. Shanahan tree proves too difficult to climb

The Cowboys’ former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn did a good job overall, but his units struggled against offensive coordinators from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. The team was hoping a smarter, more adaptable Zimmer defense could be the remedy. On Sunday, it wasn’t. Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was Shanahan’s passing game coordinator last year in San Francisco. Kubiak picked up right where Shanahan’s offenses left off against Dallas and continues to be this defense’s kryptonite. They had no answers for the Saints offense.

3. Kamara the stara

The Cowboys have been good at keeping the Saints star running back in check over his career. Coming into this game, Alvin Kamara has averaged 52.5 rushing yards per game and never scored a touchdown against them. On Sunday, Kamara destroyed them. The Saints back finished the game with 180 total yards and four touchdowns. Whether it was running the ball or catching it out of the backfield, the Cowboys had no answer for Kamara.

4. Slow death or quick death, the defense was always dying

Last year, the defense was either brought into submission by a slow death from not stopping the running game or they played well for the most part only to fall victim to big plays. On Sunday, it was a little of both. It didn’t matter if it was failing to get off the field on third down and surrendering 10+ play drives or a one-play 70-yard strike, the defense was getting smoked from all sides.

5. Missed opportunities

The Cowboys’ offense moved the ball but settled for way too many field goals. Some of their drives could’ve ended in touchdowns had Dak Prescott been more accurate with his throws. On the opening drive, he underthrew Rico Dowdle on a wheel route allowing the defense to catch up with him and defend the pass. Then on their next drive, Prescott had CeeDee Lamb wide open over the middle of the seam and just overthrew him. On the team’s opening drive in the second half, Prescott missed Ezekiel Elliott out in the flat which could have resulted in a touchdown. Whenever there was a play to be made, the Cowboys just couldn’t make it.

6. When the game slipped away

The Cowboys were trying to get back in with a scoring drive at the end of the first half but just couldn’t get things to go their way. When Prescott tried to find Jalen Brooks on a deep slant, the second-year receiver slipped on the turf allowing the ball to go right into the hands of Saints defender Paulson Adebo. Not only did that put the end to the drive, but Adebo returned the pick 47 yards setting up the Saints’ offense at the Cowboys’ 20-yard line. Three plays later, they scored, making it 35-13.

7. Still searching for answers in the running game

The Saints ran all over Dallas, but the Cowboys couldn’t return the favor. The offense continues to look for answers in the running game. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 16 yards on six carries (2.7 ypc) and Deuce Vaughn ran the ball four times for 11 yards (2.8 ypc). The team’s top rusher was Rico Dowdle who ran the ball seven times for 30 yards (4.3 ypc). Overall, the team ran 21 times for 68 yards for just 3.2 yards per attempt. The Cowboys are two games in and still don’t appear to know what they want to do running the ball. Maybe it’s time to give that Dalvin Cook fella a try?

8. A Tolbert sighting

The Cowboys third-year receiver has been quiet during his time in the league. On Sunday, he had the best game of his career with six catches for 82 yards. He had a remarkable 39-yard catch when he worked back for the ball with the defender draped all over him. And he had a great hustle play where he ran from the end zone to recover a Prescott fumble. It was good to see the team’s third receiver be involved as this was only the second time in his career he’s had over three catches in a game.

9. Juanyeh returning kicks

With all the kicking the Saints did, you’d think KaVontae Turpin would’ve had plenty of chances to get loose in the return game, but that didn’t happen. The Saints kicked away from him most of the game, putting the return work on Juanyeh Thomas. Turpin did have one chance for a return and took it to the 39-yard line. The Saints weren’t going to let Turpin beat them.

10. Aubrey’s still good

Nobody cares about a kicker when the team loses by 25 points, but it’s still nice to have a guy who doesn’t miss. Brandon Aubrey went 4/4 on the day, including another 50+ field goal. He’s now 13/13 on kicks over 50 yards over the past two seasons. As a frame of reference, Justin Tucker is just 1/7 on kicks from that distance during that same period.