Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Grades from Sunday’s game are (surprise!) not good for the Dallas Cowboys. If the Cowboys were feeling a little cocky following their big win over the Browns a week ago, they’ve certainly come back down to Earth after a blowout loss at home to the Saints. It was a complete reversal of last week’s performance, as the offense played well but the defense looked lost. Let’s get into some grades for all the different units in this one. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw two picks in this game, but it was definitely a better performance than last week for the quarterback despite facing another great defense. On the day, he completed 69.2% of his passes for 293 yards with a touchdown and the two aforementioned interceptions. Of course, one of those came as a result of his intended receiver falling down, while the other came late in the fourth quarter when the game was pretty much already over and Prescott was simply trying to create something out of nothing. For the most part, though, Prescott looked more like himself than he did in Week 1, though it was still not the type of performance we’re used to seeing from him. Grade: B Running backs The running backs didn’t get much of an opportunity in this game, since the Cowboys got down by so much so quickly, but they looked better than they did a week ago. Rico Dowdle, in particular, had a better game with 30 rushing yards on just seven carries. Ezekiel Elliott only put up 16 yards on six carries, but most of his attempts came in short yardage scenarios. Interestingly, Deuce Vaughn saw a lot of snaps in this one, though he ultimately only carried the ball four times for 11 yards. It seemed as if the Cowboys wanted a three-headed running attack in this game, but they ultimately had to abandon it because of the score. It’ll be interesting to monitor this group and how the rotation evolves going forward. Grade: B- Pass catchers With Jake Ferguson out, Luke Schoonmaker was pushed into TE1 status for this game. All things considered, he did well; Schoonmaker caught six passes for 43 yards, though it was hard to wonder how much better things would’ve gone with Ferguson in there. Elsewhere, CeeDee Lamb had a good game and Jalen Tolbert came up with several big catches on the day. The thing that ultimately kept this group from earning a higher grade was a general inability to get open. The Saints started double-teaming Lamb early, but there were plenty of contested catches everywhere else. Also, Jalen Brooks causing an interception and later dropped a pass that didn’t help the position group’s grade either. Grade: C+ Offensive line The offensive line had a tough time against this physical Saints defensive line. Tyler Guyton got called for a hold that stalled out a drive and later for a false start, while Cooper Beebe was called for an ineligible man downfield. They also struggled in pass protection, with Prescott being sacked three times. Still, there were plenty of reps where Prescott had clean pockets, and the run blocking was a tad better than last week’s effort despite a smaller sample size. There is still room to grow for this group, but they performed okay against a great defense. Grade: C+ Pass rush No defense had a better pass rush last week than the Cowboys, but it seems they left all their pass rush juice in Cleveland. Derek Carr was rarely under pressure in this game, and it wasn’t just because the quarterback was getting the ball out quick. The lone sack that Dallas recorded was a play where Carr was chased out of bounds; Chauncey Golston was credited with the sack, but he never actually touched Carr. Micah Parsons was hardly seen or heard from in this game, too. The Saints put on a masterclass in scheming around Parsons, and the star pass rusher struggled to get anything going. Part of that is due to the defense rarely seeing a third down, let alone a third and long, but it’s still concerning how absent this entire pass rush was. Grade: F Run defense After a strong performance against a run-heavy offense a week ago, Dallas went right back to their old ways of folding against the run. Alvin Kamara averaged 5.8 yards per carry, and Jamaal Williams averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In fact, the only Saints player in the entire game to not average at least 4.3 yards a carry was Carr, whose only rush attempt was a QB sneak that went one yard for a touchdown. That kind of performance against the run is simply not going to get it done, especially with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the Ravens coming to town next week. Grade: F Pass coverage Carr didn’t have to do much in this game, only attempting 16 passes in the entire game. It also didn’t help that he seemingly had all day to throw. Still, when Carr did throw the ball, he encountered very little resistance from this defense. Chris Olave had an easy catch in the wide open middle of the field because of the play design, and several short passes turned into huge gains because of the misdirection before the snap. Carr had one bad pass that was made worse by Olave tipping it into Donovan Wilson’s hands for an interception, but it was an otherwise easy day for Carr. That can’t happen again for this secondary. Grade: D+ Special teams No real notes here, as Brandon Aubrey remains a legitimate weapon. He was perfect on the day, hitting all four field goals with ease and also drilling his lone extra point attempt. Bryan Anger’s lone punt of the day was downed inside the 20 as well. KaVontae Turpin even had a nice 35-yard kick return, though he was unable to attempt a return on the lone punt of the day from

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Our stock report is full of tons of down arrows following Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys loss. The Dallas Cowboys had no business playing against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. To call it a game would be generous. New Orleans had their way in just about every single capacity against the Cowboys and partied all throughout. Their first six possessions all resulted in touchdowns, and through the first two weeks of the season they look like one of the better offenses in the league. Questions are now circling the Cowboys like buzzards in the desert as many are wondering if this team is truly a playoff contender or just in for a long year. Welcome to our stock report following Sunday’s loss, which as you can imagine is not going to be a ton of fun. Stock Down: Mike McCarthy Mike McCarthy was not the worst at his job on Sunday, but as the head coach he has to lead the way here. The Cowboys were woefully un-prepared which is a reflection on the program he operated leading up to the home opener. We have known the Cowboys to be stout at home, but the last two games we have seen them play there have been epic beatdowns. Consider that on Sunday the Cowboys allowed 432 total yards and 44 points, a game like that literally did not happen in the entire Dan Quinn era. Does that mean that Quinn was the real master of everything? Hardly. But those are the kinds of questions that losing that kind of way will yield. What’s more is that McCarthy inexcusably left his starters in this game in the fourth quarter with things well already out of contention. It was during this time that Zack Martin exited with injury (thankfully he returned), CeeDee Lamb took a hit to the head in the endzone and Dak Prescott was sacked again. What was the purpose? The plan? The goal? It is the middle of September, we all know that this is a marathon and not a sprint. Playing for pride or something is a fool’s errand. What’s more is that even if you were playing for some morale boost, Dallas turned the ball over on downs on both of their possessions with the starters to start the fourth quarter. Stock Down: Mike Zimmer As it relates to the new defensive play-caller, it was hardly a great return to the home building for Mike Zimmer’s career with the Dallas Cowboys. Is it fair to blame Mike Zimmer entirely? That would be an overreaction. But Klint Kubiak had the New Orleans Saints ready to go and was scheming players open constantly. Derek Carr threw for 243 yards on only 11 completions because of how many explosive plays they were able to generate. This matchup was lost in the game-planning whether or not Zimmer knew it. The Cowboys continue to struggle with any semblance of Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system, and in their first test to be ready for it with a new defensive coordinator they massively failed. Stock Down: Micah Parsons To be clear, Micah Parsons led the team in pressures (he had three and was the only player with multiple), but he has set such a high standard for himself that when something like this happens we turn to him and ask for more. Being the best means you have a different bar. The Cowboys had a pressure rate of 44.6% in Week 1, that dropped all the way to 35.3% against New Orleans. Going against an offensive scheme that is your kryptonite is one thing, but worsening it by not getting home or anywhere near home is only going to worsen it. We need to see more. Stock Down: Eric Kendricks Alvin Kamara had himself quite the day for the Saints and Eric Kendricks spent a lot of it running after him. Kendricks was coming off of an amazing debut for the Cowboys where he arguably should have won NFC Defensive Player of the Week, but on Sunday he looked overmatched in every sense of the word. There is still time to turn things around, but talented skill players out in space are going to have a constant advantage against this group. Stock Down: Donovan Wilson As noted previously, the Saints had explosive plays all day long. Donovan Wilson had a hand in that. Derek Carr found Rashid Shaheed for a 70-yard touchdown at one point in this game on a pass that traveled over 50 yards in the air. Donovan Wilson was unable to break it up. Derek Carr’s 70-yard touchdown to Rashid Shaheed traveled 54.5 yards in the air against the Dallas Cowboys defense. (via @NextGenStats) pic.twitter.com/Z80WzMTBAx — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) September 15, 2024 As the last line of defense Wilson has got to be someone who the Cowboys can depend on more. These types of plays obviously cannot happen. Stock Down: Jalen Brooks It appeared as if Brandin Cooks was going to score on an end around early in the game. He may have if Jalen Brooks had properly executed his block. What’s more is that Dak Prescott threw an interception in the first half on a pass intended for Brooks where he slipped on the route. You cannot make these mistakes if you are going to be someone who the offense depends on to a significant degree. Stock Down: Terence Steele The Saints had an impressive day in just about every sense and they seemed to go to the well over and over again on Terence Steele’s side. He has to be someone who they can rely on more in pass protection, especially given his elder statesman status. Stock Down: Dallas Cowboys Front Office This was the game that many expected where the decisions that the front office made over the course of the offseason reared their ugly head. Relying on Jalen Tolbert and Jalen Brooks to a significant degree is asking for an awful lot on

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images Notable headlines surrounding America’s team. Saints destroy Cowboys defense in Week 2 blowout – Mark Heaney, Inside The Star An embarrassment all around. First Half Malaise You would think after such a great Week 1 win, the Cowboys would come out firing in the first half of their home opener. That could not have been more incorrect. The first half was a nightmare for Dallas, and it started with a 7-play, 80 yard touchdown drive that would hand Kamara the first of his four touchdowns on the day. After a long drive that resulted in a field goal, the Saints responded with a one-play, 70 yard touchdown drive. Dallas never recovered from that point on. In total, the Saints had five offensive drives, and they came away with five touchdowns for 35 points. The Cowboys defense forced just three 3rd downs in 26 first half offensive plays. There were two bright spots in the first half for Dallas, and those were CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aubrey. The superstar wide receiver came down with an impressive 65-yard touchdown catch. On special teams, Aubrey picked up the offenses slack, going 3/3 in the half on field goals, including a 52-yarder. Eatman: Driven by Carr and powered by Kamara, Saints ran every stop sign – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com New Orleans was rolling in every facet of the game. With 9:43 to play in the game, the Saints brought out their punter – for the first time all day. And for that matter, they hadn’t even brought out their field-goal kicker either, except to tack on extra points to all these touchdowns. If that doesn’t symbolize a bad day for the defense, nothing does. The Cowboys simply couldn’t stop the Saints – in anything they tried to do. Give New Orleans a ton of credit. Whatever Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara wanted to do, they did it with success. Attack the middle of the field with crossing routes? Yes, did that to open the game. Deep ball down the seam? Yes, touchdown on the second drive. What about attack the edge with Kamara? Yes, all day long – over and over and over and over. I know Micah Parsons has a podcast called The Edge. The Saints basically lived there for four quarters, and the Cowboys couldn’t do much about it. Man, to think the Saints didn’t even get a full week of practice due to Hurricane Francine, but you wouldn’t have ever noticed. New Orleans looked so much better prepared on both sides of the ball – but especially on offense. I was asked a few times during the week if the Cowboys’ Week 1 win over the Browns was a product of a great defense or a terrible quarterback performance by Deshaun Watson. I took the easy way out and said, “Both.” But I think it’s very clear what the answer is now. We knew it would be a different story with Carr in the pocket, especially if he had time to throw. And too many times in the game, Carr got to stand back there and pick the Cowboys apart. Micah Parsons passionately defends Mike Zimmer after Cowboys’ Week 2 massacre – Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat The lion responds to the defensive ineptitude. It is hard (basically impossible) to come to Zimmer’s defense after a performance like that, but Parsons led that charge on social media with a passionate response to a tweet from our friends at Blogging The Boys. Micah Parsons passionately defends Mike Zimmer after Cowboys’ Week 2 loss Those are very strong words from Parsons. It is impossible to say on first watch if it was Zimmer’s scheme or the players’ performance that caused the meltdown. Perhaps it was a combination of both, but Zimmer cannot be blamed for Dallas’ nose tackles playing like their feet are stuck in mud. The Cowboys ran into a similar problem last year. While the linebacker room is much-improved relative to 2023, it’s impossible for Eric Kendricks, Damone Clark, DeMarvion Overshown and Maris Liufau to fill gaps and get downhill when the nose tackles are hanging them out to dry. It brings into question why Dallas only signed one external free agent before August. Adding vets Jordan Phillips and Linval Joseph bolstered the depth of the defensive line, but it’s possible that Cowboys fans were a little too bullish projecting their respective impacts. Dak Prescott looks ahead after disappointing loss at home – Ali Jawad, Sports Illustrated Dak is looking for redemption. Despite a disappointing home opener loss quarterback Dak Prescott expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back. “We’re gonna learn from it,” Prescott stated after the game. “That was a good team. Gotta give them credit. This is the NFL. The Cowboys’ offense struggled to find its footing against a stout Saints defense, scoring less than 20 points at home for the first time in two years, and Prescott acknowledged the challenge they faced. However, the veteran QB emphasized the importance of focusing on the process and responding to adversity. “It’s about trusting the process and responding,” Prescott said. “I know we have the guys to do that.” Prescott’s optimism reflects the resilience within the Cowboys’ locker room. While the loss stings, the team will be eager to get back to work and correct the mistakes that led to their Week 1 defeat. “Honestly excited to get back to work and turn this page,” Prescott concluded. The Cowboys will look to rebound next week when they welcome the Baltimore Ravens who fell to 0-2 after a shocking loss of their own against the Las Vegas Raiders. 4 Dallas Cowboys to blame for total embarrassment at hands of Saints – Cody Williams, FanSided There is plenty of blame to go around in this one. 3. Trevon Diggs didn’t play anything close to like a superstar Trevon Diggs returning to the Cowboys after missing all of last season was supposed to be a boon

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Just about everything on Sunday was ugly for the Dallas Cowboys. After dominating the Cleveland Browns in the season opener in all three phases of the game, hopes were high the Dallas Cowboys would carry over that momentum into the Week 2 matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately, any hopes of that happening where almost immediately crushed. From the opening kickoff, the New Orleans Saints dominated this Week 2 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. New Orleans was clearly the better team Sunday afternoon and easily walked away with the 44-19 victory to ruin the Cowboys 2024 home opener at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys Jekyll and Hyde act through the first two weeks of the 2024 season all but confirms we really don’t know exactly what this team is capable of this year. It’s definitely been a mixed bag for them to start the season. Today, we are going to take a look at the good, bad, and ugly from their Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints. THE GOOD – Brandon Aubrey Shout out to Jalen Tolbert for his tremendous 39-yard catch in the third quarter. .@Jalen8Tolbert adjusts to make the catch! What a play. : #NOvsDAL on FOX : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/puC66HTdUJ — NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024 And CeeDee Lamb’s touchdown catch was one of the few positives from Dallas’ home opener, but it was painfully obvious the only really good thing from the Dallas Cowboys Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints was Brandon Aubrey. He was once again a perfect four of four on field goal attempts with a long from 53 yards. Right now, he is arguably the most consistent weapon they have on their entire roster through the first two weeks of the 2024 season. THE BAD – Dak Prescott and the offense The Cowboys were able to move the ball against the Saints defense Sunday afternoon, finishing with a total of 353 yards (285 passing, 68 rushing). Minus the touchdown catch by CeeDee Lamb, and the acrobatic 39-yard catch by Jalen Tolbert, Dak Prescott and the offense really struggled with big plays, and as a result relied on field goals for the majority of their points. Meanwhile, the Saints were scoring touchdowns. They get props for moving the ball, but they were bad when it came to putting touchdowns on the board. THE UGLY – Mike Zimmer’s defense Mike Zimmer received a lot of praise after the Cowboys Week 1 victory over the Browns, but will shoulder a lot of the blame for the way his defense played in Week 2 against the Saints. New Orleans absolutely shredded Dallas’ defense Sunday afternoon. Derek Carr was virtually untouched the entire game and carved them up through the air, but it was Alvin Kamara who did most of the damage rushing for 115 yards on the ground and three touchdowns and also adding 65 yards and a touchdown through the air. It was simply ugly and embarrassing.

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images It is going to surprise you to learn that social media had a lot to say about Dallas losing on Sunday. There were high hopes and expectations this week from Dallas Cowboys fans after the win last week against the Cleveland Browns. The Cowboys made AT&T Stadium a fortress last year and looked to continue that trend in the season home opener. But the New Orleans Saints had other plans. Things got off to a bad start when the Saints marched right down the field for a touchdown on the first series, but the Cowboys managed a field goal to get their scoring going. Brandon Aubrey’s 52 yard field goal is good to make it a 7-3 game. Get comfortable, this one looks like it’ll be good #DallasCowboys — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) September 15, 2024 The defense was non-existent from the outset. They gave the Saints offense a lot of room to work and the defensive woes all started up front. Pass rush is pathetic — ₗₐₙᴰₒₙ (@McCoolBCB) September 15, 2024 The defensive effort began get worse. Play action bomb for 70-yard strike to Shaheed. Got behind both safeties. Nope, don’t like that. — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 15, 2024 A huge Dak Prescott connection with CeeDee Lamb for a 65-yard touchdown stirred up hope. When the Cowboys needed it BADLY, CeeDee Lamb makes a play. Beats double coverage, breaks a tackle, gone. 65-yard TD. — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) September 15, 2024 But the Saints came right back. Starting to feel like the playoff game. — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) September 15, 2024 Alvin Kamara takes it to the house on a screen pass. The Saints fans are fired up. — Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) September 15, 2024 The Saints fans are going CRAZY at AT&T Stadium making it sound like a home game for them. — Jess Nevarez (@JessNevarez_) September 15, 2024 Five possessions for the Saints. Five touchdowns for the Saints. The Dallas Cowboys are getting out-everything’d. — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) September 15, 2024 The defense never gave them a chance. Never. Gave. Them. A. Chance. Humiliating on so many levels. #DallasCowboys — Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) September 15, 2024 Then Jalen Brooks really caused some problems as he stumbled and gave up an interception. First pick for Dak this year…great route, great throw…Jalen Brooks loses his footing and it’s an interception for New Orleans. Unfortunate circumstances, but it adds a level of frustration to a pitiful first half… — Kyle Youmans (@Kyle_Youmans) September 15, 2024 It was a monumentality terrible half. Saints, 35-13. Wow. The 35-points are tied for the most the Cowboys have ever allowed in a first half. They allowed 35 to the Eagles on Nov. 5, 2004 at Texas Stadium. They allowed 35 at Denver on Sept. 13, 1998. — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) September 15, 2024 35 points in one half of football. This could be as bad as the South Alabama game the other day that got the “Mercy Rule”#DallasCowboys — Mike Poland (@kenfigkowboy) September 15, 2024 Then the second half happened. How it’s going pic.twitter.com/f8pBvL2EQ8 — Meg Murray (@megmurrrray) September 15, 2024 This is not how this game is meant to go…. — The World’s Team Podcast (@the_worlds_team) September 15, 2024 Donovan Wilson tried to create a spark. Dono with the interception. The defense did a thing. Can the offense make it count? — Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 15, 2024 Only for it to be extinguished moments later. The Dallas defense finally gets a stop, and the offense immediately gives it right back with an interception to Tyrann Mathieu. 11:59 to go, Saints lead 41-19. — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) September 15, 2024 It was just a relief for it to all be over. A demoralizing day for the Cowboys. Onto Week 3 to figure out the hell you avoid another loss like this. — Jess Nevarez (@JessNevarez_) September 15, 2024

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images The Cowboys and Saints were a part of history together on Sunday. The record books will remember Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints game. You may be thinking this had to do with a certain statistical accomplishment, maybe the fact that the Saints scored touchdowns on their first six possessions to start the game. But you would be mistaken! Something interesting and fun to track in any NFL game is whether or not a Scorigami is going to occur. For those unaware, a Scorigami is when a score happens that has never been recorded before in NFL history. The Cowboys and Saints achieved one on Sunday. NO 44 – 19 DALFinal That’s Scorigami!! It’s the 1086th unique final score in NFL history. — Scorigami (@NFL_Scorigami) September 15, 2024 Ultimately things like this mean absolutely nothing, but they are interesting in the sense that so many games have been played across history and that this particular score has never happened. If we have to attribute it all to one specific thing it may be New Orleans missing an extra point. Had the Saints gone perfect in that sense the final score would have been 45-19. But here we are. Welcome to history.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Who wins tonight… Chicago or Houston? The Chicago Bears visit the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football. Our partners at FanDuel have the Texans as 6.5-point favorites in the game. Both teams won in Week 1, but the Bears managed to somehow do that without scoring an offensive touchdown. The Texans found themselves in a hard-fought duel with the Indianapolis Colts where they prevailed. Until Caleb Williams and the Bears show some offensive rhythm, we’re sticking with C.J. Stroud and the Texans. Houston 24 – Chicago 13. Check out FanDuel for all of your NFL betting needs. This is an open thread for game chat.