In Week 2, the Dallas Cowboys faced a jarring setback in their home opener against the New Orleans Saints, revealing cracks in their offensive cohesion. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott experienced notable miscommunications that contributed to a 44-19 defeat. This result not only impacted their standing but also illuminated areas requiring urgent attention.
The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the second quarter. Prescott targeted Lamb in the end zone on a slot fade route, only for the play to unravel due to a misalignment. Instead of celebrating a touchdown, the Cowboys had to settle for a 38-yard field goal by kicker Brandon Aubrey, which brought the score to 14-6. Reflecting on the mistake, Lamb admitted missing practice time with Prescott during training camp was a contributing factor. "It's all about getting on the same page as your quarterback," 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."
Despite Lamb’s 135 receptions leading the NFL in 2023 and Prescott’s league-leading 36 passing touchdowns the same year, their connection faltered under pressure. Against the Saints, Prescott failed to complete any of his three vertical route attempts to Lamb, and a crucial interception to Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu further complicated their efforts. Prescott remained focused on improvement, emphasizing, "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."
Head Coach Mike McCarthy echoed this sentiment, highlighting the necessity of offseason work in building chemistry. "Our guys have done a really good job, especially away from here in the offseason, the summertime of spending that time together." However, time away from the field during training camp has proved to be a stumbling block. Lamb’s conviction remains unshaken, however. "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."
Compounding their struggles, the Cowboys’ running game has been lackluster, averaging just 85 yards per game and ranking 25th in the NFL. Their average of 3.7 yards per attempt places them 26th in the league. Running backs Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn have found it difficult to ignite the ground game. Prescott noted, "We were able to move the ball last week. Touchdowns were the problem."
Looking ahead, the Cowboys are set to face the Baltimore Ravens next. Baltimore's pass defense, which allows a league-high 257.0 passing yards per game, could provide the opportunity for Prescott and Lamb to rediscover their rhythm. The Ravens also have a 68.4% success rate on targets to the slot, an area where Lamb has thrived, leading the NFL in slot receiving yards in both 2022 and 2023. Prescott and Lamb’s record of connecting for 26 completions and 628 receiving yards on vertical routes last season suggests that they have the potential to exploit this weakness in Baltimore’s defense.
Prescott remains optimistic about solving the red zone issues. "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." As the Cowboys prepare for their next challenge, the focus will be on fine-tuning their offensive execution to convert opportunities into touchdowns rather than field goals.
The Dallas Cowboys, under the ownership and management of Jerry Jones, have always been a team that demands high standards. The recent setbacks have underscored the importance of precision and practice. As Prescott and Lamb work through their growing pains, the team’s success will hinge on their ability to quickly align and execute. The coming game against the Baltimore Ravens stands as a crucial test for the Cowboys’ offensive duo, one that could set the tone for the remainder of their season.