The Dallas Cowboys just suffered one of the most embarrassing losses in recent memory, getting eviscerated by a mediocre New Orleans Saints team that wasn’t even expected to make the playoffs just two weeks ago.
For the second time in the last three real games, Mike McCarthy’s defense was obliterated while the offense struggled. Mike Zimmer is the defensive coordinator now instead of Dan Quinn, but the results were the same. Simply put, this team doesn’t look like a legitimate contender and the blame starts at the top.
Many people should be reprimanded for this disastrous result though. CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aubrey are perhaps the only Cowboy who played well. With that in mind, let’s look at who specifically must be embarrassed going into a Week 3 showdown with the vaunted Ravens.
1. Mike Zimmer – Defensive Coordinator
Dallas fans were thrilled with Zimmer’s defense in Week 1, smothering Deshaun Watson and the Browns. Zimmer quickly forfeited that goodwill though, putting forth a pathetic effort in Week 2 and making Derek Carr look like the best QB in the league.
Going into the fourth quarter, New Orleans scored on every single drive en route to a lead over 20 points. The Saints were impressive against the pathetic Panthers in Week 1, yet no one saw this demolition coming. Unfortunately for Zimmer, the terrible effort somehow made Cowboys fans yearn for the Quinn days.
Kamara now has 10 TDs in his last 7 quarters against Mike Zimmer.
Do you understand how INSANE that is?
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) September 15, 2024
Alvin Kamara is seemingly Zimmer’s kryptonite. The defense as a whole now faces significant questions moving forward. If Carr and Kamara can make Micah Parsons and company look like swiss cheese, just imagine what two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ stout unit will do.
Dallas’ secondary was a massive weak spot. Trevon Diggs was routinely burned, and there are no excuses for how poor the entire group played. Zimmer has to take a tough look in the mirror and make major corrections, otherwise the Cowboys will get shredded by creative offenses.
This is still a playoff team, but it’s hard to imagine them making any noise unless the issues are fixed.
2. Dak Prescott – QB
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense weren’t the reason that Dallas lost, yet they didn’t do anything to inspire much confidence either. The newly-minted richest QB in the league was thoroughly outplayed by Derek Carr, throwing an interception at a critical moment that required touchdowns to keep pace.
Dallas scored on its first three possessions. Typically, that’s enough to put yourself in a position to win. However, the Saints jumped out to a 21-6 lead and Prescott was unable to keep the Cowboys in the game.
For a player who finished second in MVP voting last season, the performance was unacceptable. Prescott is theoretically part of the solution though couldn’t rise to the challenge against what was supposed to be an inferior opponent.
¡¡2ND INTERCEPTION FOR DAK PRESCOTT!!#Saints 41-19 #Cowboys
pic.twitter.com/58tqQK0Zlo— Crazy NFL (@NFLCrazy_) September 15, 2024
All of a sudden, Dallas is looking at a potential 1-2 start pending the results of the road Ravens game. Prescott was consistently pressured throughout the contest yet couldn’t overcome the deficit.
Just like in the loss to the Packers in the playoffs last year, the Cowboys got off to a terrible start and failed to overcome adversity. Prescott has to be able to deliver in these moments and failed to do so in Week 2.
3. Mike McCarthy – Head Coach
These types of losses are nothing new for the lame-duck head coach. Mike McCarthy has never been a difference-maker schematically and his weaknesses grow more obvious with each week. There’s a reason Jerry Jones refused to give him a contract extension, and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before McCarthy is eventually fired.
Twice in the last three games, McCarthy was thoroughly undressed by a superior strategist. Zimmer’s defense deserves significant blame, yet at some point the buck has to stop at McCarthy. If he can’t put his team in a position to succeed, what value does he bring to the Cowboys’ organization?
Losing 44-19 to a borderline-playoff team is bad enough, yet it’s a disaster for a franchise expected to compete for the Super Bowl.
The Cowboys have given up 92 points in their last eight quarters at Jerry World
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 15, 2024
There is no way to justify this loss. Unfortunately for Dallas, the schedule doesn’t lighten up after the Baltimore contest in Week 3. They’ll take on the Giants in Week 4 for what should be an easy victory, but then must take on the Steelers, Lions, 49ers, Falcons, and Eagles in consecutive weeks.
It’s not unreasonable to think they could get off to a 2-5 start. Jerry Jones almost never fires a coach in the middle of the season, though calls for McCarthy’s job are already quite loud.
If McCarthy can’t motivate his team to improve and win a series of games against superior coaches, he’ll be looking for a new job this offseason.
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