Cowboys Can't Get Anything Going In Blowout Loss To Saints
The New Orleans Saints embarrassed the Dallas Cowboys on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in their Week 10 game on Sunday Night Football. The Saints took the big win over Dallas, 49-17. Here is a look at the Cowboys grades in their big loss to the Saints.
Offensive Grade: F
It was clear that this was going to be a high scoring game, and the only way that Dallas could have beat the Saints was if their offense could keep up. That did not happen.
Things looked promising early on, as DeMarco Murray started the game running the ball strong. He gained 89 yards on the ground in the game and scored a rushing touchdown, but once Dallas fell behind they had to stop running the ball, and that ended the only positive offensive performance in the game.
Tony Romo threw a 21-yard touchdown to Terrance Williams in the third quarter. Outside of that play, Romo threw for 107 yards the rest of the game. While Romo did not throw an interception, he looked horrible. He was throwing the ball into the ground at his receiver's feet and most of his 14 incompletions were uncatchable. There is a lot to be said about Rob Ryan's defense pressuring Romo, but the Dallas signal caller was way off his game.
Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley were all held to one reception and Jason Witten was having problems all game as well, finishing with two catches for 27 yards.
Defensive Grade: F
There were injury problems, such as both Sean Lee and Justin Durant leaving the game with hamstring injuries; DeMarcus Ware making his return, but limping through most of the game; and players like Morris Claiborne, J.J. Wilcox, Jason Hatcher and DeVonte Holloman all out.
Despite those injuries, this was an NFL defense on the field - although a depleted one - and there was no excuse for the Dallas Cowboys' performance in this game. The Saints set the NFL record for first downs in a game with 40 on their last drive of the game and outgained Dallas in yardage, 625 to 193. It was a massacre.
Drew Brees was eight yards short from becoming the fifth quarterback to break 400 yards against the Cowboys, finishing with 392 yards and four touchdowns. Nine different receivers caught passes, and for one of the first times this season, an actual wide receiver led the way as Marques Colston caught seven balls for 107 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Kenny Stills hauled in three for 75 yards, including a 52 yard touchdown reception.
Dallas could get credit for limiting Jimmy Graham's production, but the rest of the team did so well that it didn't matter.
While Dallas has looked bad all season against the pass, they couldn't do anything against the run this week either, allowing 242 rushing in the game. Mark Ingram ran for 145 yards, the first time in his three-year NFL career that he ran for over 100 yards in a game. He also scored his first rushing touchdown since playing Dallas in December 2012. Pierre Thomas added 87 yards with a rushing touchdown and Darren Sproles scored once on the ground as well.
The Dallas defense couldn't stop anybody and this was their most embarrassing performance of the season.
Special Teams Grade: A
Dan Bailey hit his only three attempts, one field goal and two extra points. Dwayne Harris was hurt early in the game but returned and was able to keep playing. He finished with five kick returns and averaged an impressive 24.2 yards a return. Chris Jones was also fantastic punting the ball in the game in the game, with eight punts for a 50.4 yard average. Dallas also recovered an on-side kick. It was a nice game for the special teams, but that wasn't enough to win the game.
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Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos. Examiner.com.
