ARLINGTON, Texas -- Regardless of the many injuries the Cowboys have on defense, cornerback Brandon Carr wasn't using it as an excuse Sunday evening.
The Cowboys lost in overtime 34-31 to the New Orleans Saints and in the process, allowed a season-high 562 yards of offense.
"Guys are out there busting their butts and competing," Carr said, "but I just feel like we were always a day late on everything they were trying to do to us."
Similar to the last two weeks, the Cowboys were able to get a critical stop in the fourth quarter. With 3:35 remaining and behind 31-24, the Cowboys allowed one first down before forcing a punt with 1:45 remaining.
But that stop wasn't enough for Carr.
"We have to eliminate those lapses when the offense starts rolling and putting up points and get the momentum and the crowd into the game," he said. "We got to come out and put the breaks on these guys, three-and-out or get off the field fast and give it back to our offense.
"I just feel like the last couple of weeks we haven't been doing that. We can't just keep giving up points and trading points back and forth. We've been doing this the whole season, but it catches up to you when it catches up to you and today we played against a good ball team, a good offense and a great quarterback, a lot of explosive and talented receivers and they got the job done today."
The Cowboys were without defensive starters Kenyon Coleman, Jay Ratliff, Barry Church, Sean Lee and Bruce Carter on Sunday. Key reserve Orlando Scandrick was also in street clothes and Alex Albright, Ernie Sims and DeMarcus Ware all exited with injuries.
Total yards allowed by the Cowboys' defense this season:
Week 1: At Giants – 269
Week 2: At Seahawks – 315
Week 3: Vs. Buccaneers – 166
Week 4: Vs. Bears – 360
Week 6: At Ravens – 316
Week 7: At Panthers – 328
Week 8: Vs. Giants – 293
Week 9: At Falcons – 453
Week 10: At Eagles – 369
Week 11: Vs. Browns – 311
Week 12: Vs. Redskins – 437
Week 13: Vs. Eagles – 423
Week 14: At Bengals – 336
Week 15: Vs. Steelers – 388
Week 16: Vs. Saints – 562
