The Dallas Cowboys were on one of those afternoons where not much went right for them. The team lost against the New Orleans Saints 44-19 in Week 2. There were so many issues, beginning from those offensive struggles to defensive lapses, all of which defined the gameplay. Despite such a worrisome game, some lessons can be derived from this game. Let’s take a look at the four key takeaways from the disappointing loss.
Lack of Another Weapon
The glaring issue in the game was the overuse of CeeDee Lamb. Lamb is certainly a weapons-grade player for the Cowboys, but apparently, another few weapons are needed so that defenses do not anticipate everything they throw against them. Quarterback Dak Prescott had to push the ball to Lamb at times. He did not throw away any other opportunities, as some were converted into an important interception by the defense of the Saints. Rico Dowdle and the rest of the Cowboys’ backfield did little to take the burden off of Prescott’s shoulders. And now, much-needed legs have to start filling the gaps.
Running Defense Issues
Cowboys running defense was the monumental problem in this game. Alvin Kamara of the Saints wreaked havoc everywhere he stepped with three rushing touchdowns. And oh yeah, Derick Carr even got into the ground too, rushing for a touchdown. The Cowboys’ defense, which was once their strength, is out of sorts and was not able to contain the Saints’ rush. This inability to stop the run needs an immediate fix if such performances are not wished in more games.
Ineffective Offensive Line
The offense, through this game, failed miserably, especially the offensive line gave way to two sacks and was not able to protect Dak Prescott adequately. This put more stress on Prescott, as the disrupting of the Cowboys’ offensive flow was a huge issue. The bottom line problem was the presence of an offensive line that wouldn’t provide needed help and protection for Prescott. Ensuring and improving this core aspect of play will be crucial if the Cowboys are going to regain their track and Prescott has enough time and space to create those plays he is ultimately looking for.
Cowboys’ Pressure Disappears in Week 2
During Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys defense was hot and quite unstoppable as they delivered strong pressure on the quarterback. Unfortunately, during this game, that kind of pressure was inapparent. Derek Carr had a superb game, able to move freely in the field and connect with all receivers available to him. It’s hard to understand what has gotten wrong from what the team usually achieves because their defense seemed not capable of being consistent with such ability. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will have to do some fine-tuning to bring back the aggressive defensive play that proved so effective in their season opener.
Conclusion
The Dallas Cowboys had a wake-up call when they lost to the New Orleans Saints. Its loss bared many flaws, including needing more offensive weaponry and resolving defensive and line issues, whereby much work lies ahead. The key thing, however, in the midst of this should not be forgotten is that this is still just at the onset of the season, and it allows the Cowboys to work out all these flaws and come back better than before. With some fine-tuning adjustments and dedication, they can bounce things around and get back on their winning ways. The fans and the team have every reason to remain hopeful and focused as the season progresses.
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