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ARLINGTON, Texas — Teams who begin their season with a 2-0 record have a far greater chance of making the NFL playoffs than those who sit in the middle at 1-1 through the first two weeks, and both the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints knew this going into their battle at AT&T Stadium.
For the Cowboys, it was about building upon a stellar defensive showing in the regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns — a matchup headlined by the performances of DeMarcus Lawrence, Micah Parsons, Eric Kendricks, DeMarvion Overshown, Trevon Diggs and more — but also seeing the offense take the next step in not leaving "meat on the bone", as All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott described it.
The Saints, however, had zero offensive issues in their regular season opener, hanging 47 points on the Carolina Panthers; and that's what they also had in mind for the Cowboys.
Unfortunately for Dallas, they achieved that mission in nearly similar fashion, as the Cowboys' defense simply had no answers for Carr or Alvin Kamara. They'll now fall to 1-1 through their first two games, but the following players did all they could to try and avoid that .500 mark.
Not much meat was taken off of the bone at all in this one.
[This list is unranked.]
Brandon Aubrey, K -The most lethal weapon in the NFL never disappoints, and Sunday against the Saints was no different. On a day that saw the Cowboys' offense able to extend drives but unable to continually find pay dirt, it was the First-Team All-Pro kicker providing the bulk of the points in Week 2. If you're looking for a glaring positive from the blowout loss, it's the fact you never have to worry if Aubrey can help you win games. He can rarely do it by himself, though.
CeeDee Lamb, WR - He's arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL for a reason. It's not simply that Lamb can contribute on the ground and most certainly with big plays downfield, it's also the fact he can take a throw that's roughly 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, make two defenders miss — despite them being draped all over him — and turn it into a 65-yard touchdown. It was the most electric (and lone) highlight of the day for the Cowboys' offense that produced a touchdown, though Jalen Tolbert would contribute to the slim highlight reel in general.
Jalen Tolbert, WR -Again, there wasn't much offense to go around for the Cowboys against the Saints, having become one-dimensional due to allowing Carr and Kamara to have their way at AT&T Stadium, but Tolbert left it all on the field on Sunday. He'd shake off a brutal hit laid upon him at the hands of Tyrann Mathieu to, later in the contest, adjust and elevate for a sensational 39-yard catch on a toss down the right sideline from Prescott on 3rd-and-6. The drive would end in a field goal, because of course it did, but Tolbert did his part, including securing a fumble by Prescott.
Luke Schoonmaker, TE - With Jake Ferguson sidelined due to an MCL sprain, there was plenty of talk about Hunter Luepke and Brevyn Spann-Ford, but neither were featured. It was Schoonmaker getting the nod time and again, and credit to the second-year talent for making good on his opportunities. He grabbed all six of his targets from Prescott and one was an athletic one-hander with his QB under duress. It was the best game of his young career, and it showed plenty of promise for things to come in combination with a healthy Ferguson going forward.
Chauncey Golston, DL - On a day that saw the defense unable to get anything going whatsoever, one player stood out late in the game and that's Golston. Never saying die, he chased down Carr in Cowboys' territory to force him out of bounds for a sack (1-yard loss). He'd then block the point after attempt following the touchdown the Saints were able to get on that drive by way of one of Kamara's four touchdowns on the day. Golston showed heart and effort in Week 2.
Donovan Wilson, S - Granted, Wilson and the defense as a whole struggled, but his interception early in the fourth quarter gave the Cowboys' defense their first takeaway of the game and his offense at least a chance to make things interesting going down the stretch. He and Malik Hooker want the play back that saw Shaheed go deep for a 70-yard touchdown that got behind them, but he tried desperately to swing momentum when the Cowboys needed it most.
