Where does one even begin to dissect a loss like that?
To put it bluntly: The Dallas Cowboys’ humiliating 44-19 defeat to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2 is far more alarming than initially perceived.
Earlier in the week, I highlighted the significance of this game for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who needed to prove his ability to adapt against offenses like the one employed by the Saints. The Saints, led by former San Francisco 49ers pass game coordinator Klint Kubiak, fully embraced a Shanahan-style offense that Zimmer’s defense struggled to contain.
Zimmer’s defense faltered spectacularly. In the first half alone, they allowed five consecutive touchdowns, giving up an astonishing 11.9 yards per play. The Saints scored 35 points while Derek Carr completed just nine passes in the first two quarters. The second half brought no relief, ending with a lopsided 44-19 defeat.
Several issues compounded the problem. Zimmer’s decision to play Damone Clark and Marist Liufau instead of DeMarvion Overshown in base defense was particularly questionable. Despite a standout performance against the Cleveland Browns, Overshown saw limited action until the Saints had already put 21 points on the board.
The Cowboys also struggled against the Saints’ rushing attack, with poor play from their defensive tackles exacerbating the issue. This is especially troubling given the team’s reluctance to address depth at the position until training camp was well underway. Furthermore, Dallas failed to set the edge effectively, allowing the Saints to average 5.2 yards per rush attempt, excluding their clock-killing final drives.
The severity of this loss goes beyond the obvious scoreline. While it may seem comparable to last year’s unexpected Week 3 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals, this situation is more concerning. Unlike that “trap game,” this loss exposed deeper flaws in the Cowboys’ defense, particularly against teams that employ a Shanahan-style offensive scheme.
This defeat reinforces the Cowboys’ vulnerability against strong running games and quick-passing schemes, issues that have plagued them in the past. The game served as a stark reminder that the Cowboys’ defense remains problematic and hasn’t shown significant improvement under Zimmer. If this performance is any indicator, the Cowboys could face similar challenges in the playoffs against teams like the Rams, 49ers, Packers, or even the Saints again.
In essence, this game was a harsh reality check for the Cowboys, highlighting their unresolved issues and lack of readiness for the type of playoff-caliber offenses they will encounter come January. The troubling parallels to previous losses underscore that these are not isolated issues but deep-seated problems that need urgent attention.
