Winning big one week and then losing in crushing fashion the next is a classic Cowboys move, and naturally, the Dallas Cowboys did just that.

In Week 1 of the 2024 season, the Cowboys traveled to Cleveland, dominating both offense and defense. The offense scored 33 points against the Browns’ top-ranked 2023 defense, while the Cowboys’ defense was fierce, recording six sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. With Dak Prescott signed and defensive needs filled, the Cowboys seemed poised to be an elite team.

Then it all fell apart in Week 2.

The New Orleans Saints arrived at AT&T Stadium looking to make a statement, and they did with a 44-19 victory.

The Saints’ offense scored on 15 straight possessions, while Alvin Kamara reminded everyone how dangerous he is, tallying 115 rushing yards, 65 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. The Saints’ defense was aggressive, with eight pass breakups, two interceptions, a forced fumble, and three sacks.

Following the loss, questions arose about the Cowboys’ defense. New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer told reporters on Monday he didn’t believe effort was the issue, but star defender Micah Parsons disagreed.

On his podcast, “The Edge with Micah Parsons,” Parsons expressed concern about the team’s effort.

“The effort wasn’t there from all 11…The basic fundamentals of football were lacking. At the end of the day, there’s a standard you set in training camp to prepare for the season, and we didn’t meet that. Was it our preparation? I’m not sure,” Parsons explained.

He also shared his desire to be “that guy” for the Cowboys this year and hopes to help the team get back on track.

In Monday’s press conference, Zimmer emphasized that effort wasn’t the problem, but the Saints simply outplayed them.

“They [Saints] beat us at the snap several times…That’s on me. I need to have them more prepared. I talked to them during the week about it, but we didn’t move fast enough…Sure, they have a solid scheme, but it was stuff we worked on,” Zimmer said.

‌ Despite different perspectives, both defensive leaders accepted responsibility for the loss, a key step in helping the defense recover. Now, the Cowboys must get ready for the Baltimore Ravens, another high-powered offense. The Ravens, now 0-2 after Week 2, make the Week 3 matchup crucial for both teams’ playoff hopes.