Saints Shock Cowboys, End NFL’s Longest Active Home Win Streak

The Dallas Cowboys faced a disappointing start to their season following a devastating defeat in the wild-card round last year against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. After beginning their 2024 campaign with an impressive victory over the Cleveland Browns, the Cowboys encountered a significant setback on Sunday.

In a surprising turn of events, the Cowboys’ 16-game regular-season home winning streak was abruptly ended by the New Orleans Saints, who dominated the game with a final score of 44-19. This loss not only marked the end of the longest active home win streak in the NFL, but it also tied for the fourth-longest streak of any team since 2000.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the media after the game, acknowledging the unexpected nature of the loss. “This is early. This is very, very early. We certainly didn’t see it coming. Obviously, we’ve got a lot of room for improvement here,” he stated.

The Saints showcased their offensive prowess, scoring touchdowns on all five of their first-half drives. This performance tied the record for the most points scored in the first two quarters of a game against the Cowboys. Running back Alvin Kamara was a standout player, racking up four touchdowns—three rushing and one receiving—and accumulating a total of 180 yards from scrimmage.

Just a week after a dominant defensive performance against Deshaun Watson, where they recorded six sacks, the Cowboys struggled to apply consistent pressure on Saints quarterback Derek Carr. The experienced quarterback had a solid outing, throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns while only being sacked once.

The Cowboys finally managed a significant defensive play in the fourth quarter when Carr threw an interception to Donovan Wilson. Prior to that turnover, Carr had led scoring drives on his first 15 possessions of the season, continuing the momentum from the Saints’ previous week’s blowout against the Carolina Panthers.

On the offensive side, aside from a remarkable 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown by CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys struggled to find their rhythm after falling behind early. Quarterback Dak Prescott had a tough day, throwing two interceptions and witnessing a lackluster performance from the running game, which managed only 68 yards on 21 carries.

In the aftermath of the defeat, Prescott reflected on the team’s poor showing, noting that expectations may have been set too high. “(The media) may have put this team on a high more than we should have been, and now we simply reset. We’ve got to respond,” he commented.

This defeat serves as a stark reminder for the Cowboys as they regroup and prepare for their upcoming games. The team knows that improvements are necessary to reclaim their status and ensure they can compete effectively throughout the season.

As the Cowboys move forward, they will look to address the issues revealed in this game, particularly on both offense and defense. The loss against the Saints highlights the challenges ahead as they strive to remain competitive in a tough NFC landscape.

Source: USA TODAY