‘The First Punch!’ Have Cowboys Figured Out Their Problem?

The Dallas Cowboys were dealt a harsh reality check in their home opener against the New Orleans Saints, suffering a 44-19 loss at AT&T Stadium. Just a week after dominating the Cleveland Browns on the road, the Cowboys found themselves outmatched in nearly every aspect of the game by a Saints team led by quarterback
Derek Carr.
The Cowboys are now trying to turn the page … while also trying to “learn” from all the things that went wrong.
Head coach Mike McCarthy did not hide his disappointment in his post-game press conference, acknowledging the team’s shortcomings and emphasizing the need for immediate improvement.
“We need to be better in this week’s preparation,” said McCarthy. “We weren’t quick to the first punch… and I thought that they finished better than we did. We need to learn from it.”
“The first punch.” Could it really be just that simple?
The Micah Parsons-led Cowboys’ defense bore the brunt of the blame, allowing touchdowns on the Saints’ first six drives. This early collapse put immense pressure on the offense, which struggled to respond effectively, managing just one touchdown while relying on the consistent performance of kicker Brandon Aubrey for multiple field goals. The defeat was reminiscent of the Cowboys’ loss to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs last season, marking another disappointing performance at AT&T Stadium.
Offensively, the Cowboys’ run game has yet to find its rhythm. In Week 2, the ground attack was nearly non-existent as the team fell behind early, forcing them to abandon the run. With a new addition in veteran running back Dalvin Cook to the practice squad, there is hope for more stability in the backfield. Cook, who previously shined with the Minnesota Vikings, offers experience, but his time to make an impact may still be on the horizon.

McCarthy, reflecting on the situation, noted, “I’m disappointed like everybody else. It was our first home game, and we had some momentum coming out of Week 1. At the end of the day, it’s about the competition and the process.”
With the Baltimore Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, next on the schedule, the Cowboys are preparing for another tough matchup at home. The focus now is on regaining the spark from their Week 1 victory while learning from the mistakes that cost them against the Saints.