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Things didn't start out as planned for the Saints to say the least, beginning 2014 with two excruciatingly tight losses to the Falcons and Browns. They've since recovered with a 20-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings that takes them into Sunday.
Speaking of teams used to things not going as planned, the Cowboys' stock was dirt cheap entering the season. But head coach Jason Garrett's squad has won two straight over Tennessee and St. Louis—the latter came after going down 21-0—to take a 2-1 record into the Saints game.
There have been strides in certain areas from both units, but defense isn't at a premium for either of these teams. From the Cowboys' holes in the secondary that Drew Brees will be hungry to exploit, to the Saints' inability to make late-game stops, there should be plenty of opportunities for offense in this one.
Let's get right to it and break down everything you need to know.
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
When: Sunday, September 28
Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Spread: Saints (-3), Over/Under 53
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.
Cowboys Preview: What Defense Will Show Up?
No team in the NFL gave up more yards than the Cowboys last season, and the loss of Sean Lee for the year didn't do anything to help preseason expectations for the Dallas defense. But at times in 2014, the unit has shown signs of formidability.
Of course, it didn't start that way, giving up 28 first-half points to the 49ers in Week 1. But for the next six quarters, the defense gave up just 10 points, shutting down San Francisco in the second half before drubbing the Titans.
In the snap of a finger, though, the defense that played so well came out flat as could be against the Rams and Austin Davis—a third-stringer in the preseason. But after going down 21-0 and despite giving up 327 passing yards, the Cowboys forced three turnovers to help them mount a 34-31 comeback win.
It hasn't even been a one-week-to-the-next issue for Dallas, but rather spotty play that sees them unable to make stops only to force big plays the very next drive. And heading into an indoor matchup against Brees and the Saints' passing attack, that's not a great sign.
Dallas is already changing things up, inserting Orlando Scandrick as the new starting cornerback in place of Morris Claiborne—who still figures to play a lot of snaps as the No. 3 corner. What's more, defensive end Anthony Spencer is set to make his long-awaited return on Sunday, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.
With mismatch pro Jimmy Graham coming to town and a heap of weapons assembled around Brees, it's safe to say the Cowboys defense will have its hands full. There's no telling what unit will show up Sunday afternoon.
Saints Preview: Can New Orleans, Rob Ryan End Road Woes?
Seeing teams perform better at home as opposed to the road is a constant in all of sports. Home-field advantage is quite a bit less impacting in the NFL as some other leagues, but don't tell that to the Saints.
Each of the last two seasons, New Orleans finished 3-5 for the regular season on the road. Last season, it was a perfect 8-0 at home but dropped all five of their losses in opposing stadiums.
Part of the Saints' road woes are magnified due to their dominance at the Superdome, but that's also what makes it so perplexing. Had New Orleans finished over .500 on the road last year, it would've posted a record of 13-3 or better.
But no one is looking back to last season. It's all about 2014, and unfortunately for Sean Payton's crew, it hasn't changed. The Saints opened up the season with two road losses, and didn't get into the win column until they welcomed the Vikings to town for their home opener in Week 3.
The return of Rob Ryan could play a big part in whether they can end said woes. The Saints' spirited defensive coordinator held the same spot in Dallas in 2011 and 2012 and with many of his former fellow coaches still around, there will certainly be some gamesmanship in play.
"Scott Linehan and those guys, I think they know our tendencies a little bit," Ryan told the Saints' official site. "We know theirs. I think what it is going to come down to is you are going to see two well-prepared teams going at it. We are excited about the challenge. We are working hard. We want to be a little tiny part of our success and I know we will.”
Ryan also quipped that he was expecting a standing ovation, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News:
Ryan will be feeling right at home in a stadium that he used to man the sidelines of. But whether his players join him in that regard will remain to be seen. If they do, it would be a temporary break from one of the easiest bets in sports aside from the Jaguars losing—the Saints falling on the road.
Prediction
The Cowboys defense will struggle off the bat to contain Brees' passing weapons, most notably Graham, who Dallas has no real answer for. But similarly so, the Saints' 29th-ranked secondary doesn't look to have much of an answer for its opposition.
While Tony Romo and Dez Bryant have proven dangerous at times, the Cowboys have been running wild behind a stout offensive line, led by DeMarco Murray. Save for impressing against Minnesota last week, the Saints have given up more than 120 yards on the ground to both Atlanta and Cleveland—far from elite rushing attacks.
The Cowboys' rushing attack, on the other hand, is elite. And in a game that features two potent passing attacks and two hapless defenses, that advantage should make all the difference in a tight, high-scoring game.
Dallas' defense will budge, but the Saints will show for the third time in four games that they can't stop their opponent with the game on the line.
Prediction: Cowboys 28, Saints 27
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