The Dallas Cowboys suffered a crushing defeat in their home opener, losing 44-19 to the New Orleans Saints.
Despite entering the game as significant favorites, the Cowboys were dominated from start to finish as their record dropped to 1-1 on the season.
All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons was quick to address the team’s struggles, specifically defending the defensive scheme implemented by first-year coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Parsons made it clear that the lopsided loss wasn’t the result of Zimmer’s strategy, but rather the players simply being outplayed by the Saints.
“To me, it had nothing to do with the scheme,” Parsons said. “I thought Zim called a pretty good game. At the end of the day, I believe we just got outplayed. I don’t think anyone on the field played at a hundred percent. That’s just me being accountable, saying the truth…we’ve all got to play better.”
When asked what specifically went wrong for the Cowboys’ defense, Parsons emphasized the importance of the fundamentals.
“Just focus on the keys, man,” Parsons explained. “We’ve got the guys; it’s the little things that matter in games like this. Everyone’s trying to make a play, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to use our hands and feet.”
Parsons highlighted one glaring issue: poor tackling. “We’re not tackling well. We’re arm tackling, trying to pull guys down. We’ve got to be aggressive.”
Despite Parsons defense of Zimmer, many Cowboy fans took aim at the defensive coordinator following the game. Parsons once again came to the defense of his DC and fought off critics on social media.
“Sh*t ain’t have nothing to do with Zim but everything on us!! Zim ain’t the one playing!” Parsons posted on X.
The game was a disaster for Dallas from the start, with the Saints scoring on every drive until the fourth quarter.
New Orleans took control with big plays, including a 70-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Rashid Shaheed and a 57-yard touchdown throw to Alvin Kamara.
The Cowboys’ defense allowed 35 points in the first half, tying a team record for most points conceded before halftime in franchise history.
While the Saints certainly look like a legitimate contender in the NFC, the fact that Dallas was outplayed that badly at home was a punch to the stomach of Cowboy fans.
Dallas will look to bounce back next Sunday when they host the winless Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium, hoping to put this nightmare behind them and return to winning ways.
What are your thoughts on the stunning loss?
You have to respect and admire Parsons sticking up for his DC. Having said that, is it fair to be a little concerned about Zimmer???