Since 2021, under Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, opponents have struggled to secure a win following a Dallas loss, with the reigning NFC East champs showing resilience.

While McCarthy’s first season saw the Cowboys go 1-5 after losses, largely due to quarterback Dak Prescott’s early season-ending injury, the team has since gone 12-2 in such games.

As the veteran players stress that the mindset must carry over each season, the Cowboys now have a chance to improve that record after a 44-19 loss to New Orleans.

“We have to prove it every year,” said offensive guard Zack Martin. “Each team is different. We’ve got to build our identity week-by-week.” McCarthy, though not fully committed to the stat’s significance, acknowledged its motivational value.

“It’s great motivation,” he said. “We just have to stay focused on improving each day. I think this locker room does a good job with that.”

Defensively, the Cowboys had one of their worst performances under McCarthy, allowing 44 points, as new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s unit struggled against the Saints.

Star defender Micah Parsons emphasized the need for improvement against a tough Baltimore run game. “The mentality is to bounce back, stop the run, and prove ourselves,” said Parsons.

The two losses during the 12-2 stretch included a one-point defeat in Miami last year and an overtime loss to Las Vegas in 2021. “I’ll be more frustrated if we don’t step up,” Parsons added. “That would show we’re not progressing in the right direction.”