The 2022 NFL opening night contest didn’t go the way many Cowboys fans hoped, as Dallas lost 19-3 behind a rudderless offense that never got traction after the opening drive. Tom Brady is now 8-0 against the Cowboys, and this match is likely the last opportunity for Cowboys players to get a win over the greatest quarterback in football.
“It was a tremendously disappointing way for us to start the year,” said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in postgame interviews. “I am particularly disappointed for our fans. This was a really tough night for the Cowboys and a really surprising night.”
The biggest surprises of the night centered on the inefficiency of the offense.
After Amari Cooper was traded in the offseason, CeeDee Lamb was anticipated to be the top receiver, but he managed only two receptions on 11 targets Sunday night for 29 yards. Wide receiver Noah Brown and tight end Dalton Schultz led the team in receiving, counting for 130 of the 198 receiving yards by Cowboys players.
Prescott had a difficult time getting any of the team’s receivers involved. He finished the night 14-of-29 for 134 yards before exiting the game late in the fourth quarter with a significant injury to his throwing hand.
“It was tough, veteran defense there, they made it tough on us, and we didn’t make it easier on ourselves,” Prescott said postgame. “We just didn’t play clean altogether.”
Penalties continue to be this team’s Achilles heel. After leading the league in 2021, Dallas committed 10 penalties totaling 73 yards. Only two NFL teams were penalized for more yardage on opening night.
Though the offense was out of sync, Dallas’s much-vaunted defense was excellent throughout much of the game.
Micah Parsons, 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year, opened the season with a pair of sacks on Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady, while safety Donovan Wilson collected an interception. The Dallas defense kept Brady from scoring a touchdown until late in the third quarter, the only points scored by either team in the second half.
Newly-signed placekicker Brett Maher was good on his only try of the night, a 51-yarder on the game’s opening drive. A run-for-loss by Tony Pollard and consecutive incompletions by Prescott stalled the drive after completions of 16 yards and 11 yards and good running by Ezekiel Elliott showed promise.
Elliott was one of the few bright spots on the offense. After a trying 2021 campaign in which he dealt with a knee injury throughout much of the season, Elliott had 52 yards on 10 carries, most coming early in the game before Prescott and the offense went to a throw-first gameplan. Pollard, who is expected to carry a bigger load this season, managed just 8 yards on six attempts Sunday.
Injuries to Cowboys players marred the match from the opening drive when Connor McGovern, who started at left guard, had his leg rolled up only four minutes into the contest. Safety Jayron Kearse was forced out in the third quarter with what is believed to be a high ankle sprain, while defensive end Tarell Basham went down in the fourth with an apparent injury to his thigh.
The most significant injury of the night — and one that could significantly alter the Cowboys’ chances at success this season — came in the fourth quarter. On a pass play, Prescott’s hand made contact with the helmet of Tampa Bay defender Shaq Barrett. Barrett, working against rookie tackle Tyler Smith, who was playing in relief of Tyron Smith, beat the protection twice, both times colliding with Prescott’s throwing hand.
Prescott suffered what is believed to be a Bennett fracture — an injury to the base of the thumb joint — that requires surgery and will keep him off the field for six to eight weeks.
The Cowboys will start backup QB Cooper Rush until Prescott returns. Rush completed 7 of 13 passes off the bench on Sunday but could not get the team into scoring position. He will have one week to prepare before facing the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington next week.