Cowboys Look to Rebound After Miscommunications Mar Home Opener
In a game marked by missed connections and untimely errors, the Dallas Cowboys suffered a disappointing 44-19 defeat against the New Orleans Saints in their home opener. The miscommunications, particularly between wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, were glaring and costly.
The second quarter was a microcosm of the Cowboys' struggles. On a crucial play, Prescott aimed for Lamb on a slot fade route in the end zone, only for the play to fall apart due to misalignment. This forced the Cowboys to settle for a 38-yard field goal by kicker Brandon Aubrey, making the score 14-6 at the time. The absence of training camp practice time together was quickly admitted by Lamb as the reason for the mistake. "It's all about getting on the same page as your quarterback being a receiver," Lamb acknowledged. "For me, it's just making sure that I'm available for him. Whatever I got to do to be open, I'm going to do that."
Prescott, who threw an interception to Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu and missed all three of his vertical route attempts to Lamb, attributed the difficulties to lapses in communication. "Just continuing to communicate each and every day that we're in here, whether it's the film, whether it's something at practice. Certain routes to make sure that some of those mistakes don't happen again," he emphasized. Despite leading the league in passing touchdowns in 2023 with 36, Prescott struggled to capitalize on red-zone opportunities.
The offense's inefficiency is not limited to the passing game. The Cowboys' run game ranks 25th in the NFL, averaging a mere 85 yards per game and 3.7 yards per attempt, placing them 26th. With running backs Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn struggling to find their rhythm, the team is searching for answers on the ground. Head coach Mike McCarthy remains optimistic, stating, "Our guys have done a really good job, especially away from here in the offseason, the summertime of spending that time together."
The Cowboys' next challenge won't be any easier. They are set to face the Baltimore Ravens, a team that, while allowing the most passing yards per game at 257.0, boasts a 68.4% success rate on targets to the slot. Lamb, who led the NFL in slot receiving yards in both 2022 and 2023, will have ample opportunities to exploit this vulnerability. Lamb's confidence remains unshaken, despite the recent setback. "That's just only the beginning. Everything that I've trained for in the offseason is going to come to life. I have no doubt about it," he said.
Prescott and Lamb's connection was potent last season, combining for 26 completions and 628 receiving yards on vertical routes. This chemistry must be rekindled if the Cowboys hope to avoid a repeat of their Week 2 performance. "We can hold some windows longer. I can anticipate a little bit better. I think once you get that going a little bit more, I think that’s just where the red zone will take off," Prescott offered as a solution.
Last week's game showed the Cowboys could move the ball effectively, but touchdowns became their Achilles' heel. Prescott summed it up: "We were able to move the ball last week. Touchdowns were the problem."
As the Dallas Cowboys look ahead to their clash with the Baltimore Ravens, the focus will be on correcting the errors that marred their home opener. Team owner and manager Jerry Jones will no doubt be expecting a stronger, more cohesive performance from his squad.