Cowboys Deem Blowout Loss to Saints ‘Unacceptable,’ Vow to ‘Reset’

ARLINGTON, Texas — After a lengthy 245 days, the Dallas Cowboys faced off against the New Orleans Saints, but the outcome was disappointing in a significant game. The last time the Cowboys played at AT&T Stadium, they suffered a staggering 48-32 defeat to the Green Bay Packers during the wild-card round.

In Sunday’s game, the Cowboys endured a 44-19 loss, statistically their worst home-opening defeat since team owner Jerry Jones acquired the franchise in 1989. The last comparable loss was 41-14 to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000. While this is only Week 2 of the season, the sting of another crushing defeat has fans and players alike feeling uneasy.

Despite the heavy loss, players, including cornerback Trevon Diggs, who missed the playoff game due to injury, expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, labeling it “unacceptable.” The frustration echoed the disappointment felt after the previous playoff exit.

Jerry Jones attempted to remain optimistic as he watched the Saints dominate the field much like the Packers did earlier in the year. “We’ve got so much ahead of us,” Jones said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do and players who can get the job done. I’m confident we will learn from this.”

Out of the 22 starters the Cowboys fielded against the Saints, only 16 had participated in the playoff game against the Packers. Of the 48 players suited up on Sunday, 19 were new faces compared to the wild-card showdown. With Mike Zimmer now taking over as defensive coordinator, he introduced changes to the defensive schemes previously led by Dan Quinn, now the head coach of the Washington Commanders.

However, the defensive performance against the Saints reflected some unsettling similarities to the team’s prior shortcomings. Just as the Packers surged to a 27-7 halftime lead in the playoffs, the Saints had a commanding 35-16 advantage by halftime. This was a serious blow, marking one of the highest points allowed in the first half in the Cowboys’ history.

In just the first half, the Saints amassed 290 yards of offense, far exceeding the 230 yards allowed in their Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns. In contrast, the Packers managed 217 yards in their playoff outing. Both opponents converted key third downs with ease, underscoring the struggles the Cowboys’ defense encountered.

The defensive mistakes were evident when the Saints capitalized on Dak Prescott’s interception, which eventually led to a touchdown just before the halftime whistle. The Saints had seized control of the game and left the Cowboys chasing the scoreboard with little time to recover.

Despite the difficult loss, Prescott urged against comparing this season to last year’s struggles. “We’re talking two completely different teams,” he remarked. Prescott acknowledged that letting the game slip away was tough, yet he remains focused on the team’s future.

The defeat also marked the end of the Cowboys’ impressive 16-game regular-season winning streak at AT&T Stadium, which is a significant accomplishment in the NFL. Alvin Kamara, the Saints’ running back, etched his name in history by scoring four touchdowns against the Cowboys, a feat last accomplished by a player in 1994.

New Orleans remarkably scored touchdowns on their first six possessions, effectively making the second half a formality as they dominated the field. Coach Mike McCarthy quickly noted that prior losses should not overshadow current performance but acknowledged that the revamped defense did not live up to expectations.

The statistics reflected a breakdown in run defense; the Packers rushed for 143 yards while the Saints tallied 190 yards on the ground, with Kamara delivering the bulk of those yards. “At the end of the day, I just believe we got outplayed,” noted edge rusher Micah Parsons. “Nobody played to their potential. We all need to step it up.”

Next week, the Cowboys will take on the Baltimore Ravens, who also find themselves at 0-2 despite having last year’s MVP, Lamar Jackson, leading their team. “Now, we simply have to reset,” Prescott acknowledged. “We’ve got to respond. We know we won’t go undefeated. It’s about regrouping and putting our best foot forward next week.”