In Week 2, the Dallas Cowboys faced a heart-wrenching defeat at the hands of the New Orleans Saints, losing 44-19 in their home opener. The game highlighted significant miscommunications between wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, particularly in the red zone. This disarray pointed to the limited practice time the duo had together during training camp, a fact Lamb himself acknowledged after the game.
"It's all about getting on the same page as your quarterback being a receiver," Lamb admitted. "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's attempts to connect with Lamb, particularly on vertical routes, faltered. In the second quarter, Prescott aimed for Lamb in the end zone on a slot fade route, but a misalignment forced the Cowboys to settle for a 38-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey, making the score 14-6. The quarterback failed to complete any of his three vertical route attempts to Lamb in the game and threw an interception to Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu, underlining the pressing need for better communication and practice.
Prescott, reflecting on the loss, emphasized the importance of continual 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 said.
The offensive struggles come despite high expectations set by both players. Lamb signed a lucrative four-year, $136 million extension before training camp in 2023. His performance lived up to that billing on paper—leading the NFL with 135 receptions in 2023 and topping the league in slot receiving yards for two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023.
Prescott’s achievements also can’t be overlooked, having led the league in passing touchdowns with 36 in 2023. Yet the miscommunication in the critical red zone situations against the Saints revealed cracks in an otherwise promising offensive duo.
Head coach Mike McCarthy remains optimistic, pointing to the work put in during the offseason to build chemistry. "Our guys have done a really good job, especially away from here in the offseason, the summertime of spending that time together," McCarthy noted.
Run Game Struggles
The Cowboys’ issues weren’t limited to the passing game. The run game, averaging a mere 85 yards per game and ranking 25th in the NFL, was another weak link. With an average of just 3.7 yards per attempt, the team sits a disappointing 26th in the league in this category. Running backs Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn have been unable to establish a consistent ground presence, contributing to the offensive instability.
Upcoming Challenge Against the Ravens
As the Cowboys prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens next, they'll confront a team known for allowing the most passing yards per game at 257.0 and a 68.4% success rate on targets to the slot. This presents an opportunity for Lamb to exploit, given his record of leading the league in slot receiving yards. Last season, Prescott and Lamb connected for impressive stats—26 completions for 628 receiving yards on vertical routes. However, capitalizing on this will require the duo to overcome their recent miscommunication issues.
Prescott remains confident that the team can turn things around. "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," he said. Lamb echoed this sentiment, expressing unwavering confidence in their preparation. "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."
With Jerry Jones at the helm, the Cowboys have the resources and talent to contend at the highest level. However, the team’s ability to overcome miscommunications, strengthen their red zone efficiency, and rejuvenate their running game will be crucial to their success as the season progresses. "We were able to move the ball last week. Touchdowns were the problem," Prescott reflected, signifying the critical areas needing improvement.
The road ahead is challenging, but with strong leadership and a commitment to improvement, the Dallas Cowboys have the potential to turn their early-season woes into a successful campaign.