Despite the justified attention on the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive breakdown against the New Orleans Saints, the offense also struggled to score as the game progressed.
While Dak Prescott and the team improved their third-down efficiency compared to their Week 1 win against the Cleveland Browns, their issues in the red zone contributed to the defeat.
Brandin Cooks, who had a strong start in the season opener, couldn’t find his rhythm against the Saints, which added to the overall struggles. However, having experienced the highs and lows of the NFL, Cooks remains focused on moving forward.
His advice to the locker room, particularly the younger players, is clear this week.
“The mindset is, obviously, how do you prepare and react to unscouted looks, right?” Cooks said as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens’ tough defense. “[It’s] September football, and it’s about how quickly you can return to your fundamentals and everything you’ve worked on in camp, trusting the process we set.”
“… Yes, we lost, but it’s all about getting back to work. Don’t panic. If you truly believe in your process, then trust the foundation and culture you’ve built. Come back, be yourself, and do what you do best.”
That doesn’t mean Cooks is forgetting the lessons from the loss, though. On the contrary, he welcomes those lessons but doesn’t let them affect his mindset moving forward.
“It should be more intense after a loss, but don’t try to invent things,” he added. “Just go back to the basics, stick to what you do best, and give it your all in the next game.”
With so much at stake for the Cowboys, yet only heading into the third game of a 17-game regular season, and potentially more postseason games, Cooks encourages the team to maintain balance through both the highs and lows.
An NFL season is filled with both.
“The key is staying even keel throughout the season,” Cooks explained. “Win or lose, tune out the noise. When you win, you’re praised, and when you lose, well, we all know. So, stay focused on the task at hand, remain steady no matter what because the season is long.”
“If you ride the rollercoaster of emotions, with its ups and downs, you’ll only exhaust yourself mentally.”
The Cowboys face another big challenge this Sunday, again at home, but Cooks will approach it the same way he always does, regardless of the prior game’s outcome.
