Cowboys embarrassed by Saints in Week 2

The Dallas Cowboys scored the most points per game (29.9) and allowed the fifth-fewest yards per contest (299.7) in 2023. You’d never know it based on their performance against the Saints in Week 2.

Sunday’s game was over at halftime thanks to a pair of touchdowns from Saints quarterback Derek Carr and two scores from running back Alvin Kamara. Carr finished the first half with 22 more passing yards (222) than he had in a Week 1 blowout of the Carolina Panthers as the Saints took a 35-16 lead into the locker room.

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott went 17-23 for 186 yards with a touchdown and interception in the first half with almost half of those yards going to CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver scored his first touchdown of the year in the second quarter but received no help from the team’s running backs, who averaged 2.9 yards per rush in the first half.

It was more of the same in the second half as the Cowboys’ first drive resulted in a strip-sack of Prescott that the team was lucky to recover after the Saints’ Chase Young booted away what looked to be a sure turnover for New Orleans.

Dallas fans had a glimmer of hope with 12:04 to play when Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson intercepted a tipped pass from Carr, only for Prescott to throw an interception on the very next play.

At the end of the day, the Cowboys offense averaged 5.3 yards per play and rushed for a total of 68 yards while going 0-3 in the red zone. Meanwhile, the Saints averaged 7.7 yards per play and ran for 190 yards on 39 attempts, winning a 44-19 game that didn’t even seem that close.

Things won't get any easier for the Cowboys with the Baltimore Ravens and MVP Lamar Jackson on tap for Week 3.