News: DC.com Writers Share Their Gut Feelings For Cowboys-Saints

[CCBoy]

DallasCowboys.com Writers Share Their Gut Feelings For Cowboys-Saints
Saturday, October 03, 2015 10:00 AM CDT
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...iters-share-their-gut-feelings-cowboys-saints



The Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints are quite familiar with each other – they’ve played an inter-division game in five of the last six seasons, the only exception being 2011.

They meet again Sunday night in primetime, both badly needing a victory. The Cowboys are trying to maintain their early-season NFC East lead without quarterback Tony Romo (fractured collarbone) and wide receiver Dez Bryant (foot surgery). The Saints are 0-3, and only one team, the 1992 San Diego Chargers, has overcome an 0-4 start to make the playoffs since the current postseason format was established 25 years ago.

Here are the gut feelings from staff writers David Helman, Nick Eatman, Rob Phillips and Bryan Broaddus:

David Helman: From 1-53, I think the Cowboys have a much better team than the New Orleans Saints this season. But with the recent revelation that Drew Brees will play on Sunday, I think the Saints have a far superior quarterback – and that counts for a lot. At the same time, I can’t help but feel that the Cowboys have a decided talent advantage. I don’t trust that the Saints can shut down the Dallas run game as effectively as the Falcons did, and I do trust that the Cowboys can improve defensively on last week’s meltdown. I don’t feel confident at all in picking a Dallas win, because a good quarterback can make all the difference. But it’s not as if Drew Brees has been stellar in his two games. He’s got a quarterback rating of just 82 in two games – which is abysmal by his lofty standards. If the Cowboys can bait him into a couple of mistakes, it could make a big difference. I expect Dallas to employ a similar, conservative game plan this week, but I also expect it to be more effective in a 31-26 win...

 

[InDakWeTrust]

If Jordan is out, I have a lot of confidence in our OL bouncing back and taking over. Then we throw a play action deep and go up 14.

I'm hoping we win by 10+ to restore some confidence.

 

[reddyuta]

all bets are off with weeden.

 

[CCBoy]

 

[jazzcat22]

I am surprised they all picked Dallas. But I also agree with them.
Brees does bother me though. As usual, key is to get pressure on him. That is the only issue I have.
I think our D responds and plays a complete game compared to last weeks meltdown.
Leary is back, and I think he was missed the last 2 weeks in the running game. I expect better 4 quarters from them too.

 

[LocimusPrime]

We better win. I can't stand back to back losses. The food, the air, everything is so much better when the Cowboys win.

 

[dallasdave]

We better win. I can't stand back to back losses. The food, the air, everything is so much better when the Cowboys win.

Life is better when the Cowboys win !!!!

 

[jazzcat22]

Life is better when the Cowboys win !!!!

It sure is better for my blood pressure.

 

[dallasdave]

It sure is better for my blood pressure.

Mine too, life is good when the Cowboys win !!!

 

[CrownCowboy]

They have an awful amount of faith that Brandon Weeden and this offense can and will take some shots down the field. I have no doubt that we'll have some opportunities down the field but until Weeden shows that he is actually willing to throw the ball down the field, then I don't share that faith.

The Saints are going to stack the box and bring the heat all night. Tonight is the night that Weeden is going to have to put his big boy britches on and throw it. If he doesn't we are going to lose, plain and simple.

 

[reddyuta]

saints game plan would be to have everyone inside 15 yards ,set the edge with their OLBs and play man,the chances of weeden fitting in a tight pass is very low .

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

all bets are off with weeden.

How you say in America?!

 

[CCBoy]

They have an awful amount of faith that Brandon Weeden and this offense can and will take some shots down the field. I have no doubt that we'll have some opportunities down the field but until Weeden shows that he is actually willing to throw the ball down the field, then I don't share that faith.

The Saints are going to stack the box and bring the heat all night. Tonight is the night that Weeden is going to have to put his big boy britches on and throw it. If he doesn't we are going to lose, plain and simple.

...or, the offensive line puts THEIR big boy pants on and tells a subpar New Orleans defense that this Cowboys team doesn't care how much they know about them, they are still coming at them!!

 

[fortdick]

But it’s not as if Drew Brees has been stellar in his two games. He’s got a quarterback rating of just 82 in two games – which is abysmal . . .

You read this a have to feel sorry for Eli, whose career rating is 82.7.

 

[CCBoy]

You read this a have to feel sorry for Eli, whose career rating is 82.7.

 

[CrownCowboy]

...or, the offensive line puts THEIR big boy pants on and tells a subpar New Orleans defense that this Cowboys team doesn't care how much they know about them, they are still coming at them!!

Um no. The offensive line will open holes and give Weeden time. That's not the issue here.

This is the NFL. If an NFL team wants to take away the run they'll take away the run with 8 and 9 man fronts the majority of the time.

Our backup quarterback needs to throw the ball down the field period.

Running the ball is great and I'm all for it but eventually you have to prove to defenses, yes even bad defenses, that you can go down the field.

 

[CCBoy]

Um no.

This is the NFL. If an NFL team wants to take away the run they'll take away the run with 8 and 9 man fronts the majority of the time.

Our backup quarterback needs to throw the ball down the field period.

Running the ball is great and I'm all for it but eventually you have to prove to defenses, yes even bad defenses, that you can go down the field.

Sorry, even stacked, a dominant team does just that...dominates.

 

[CrownCowboy]

Sorry, even stacked, a dominant team does just that...dominates.

No they don't, not with a backup quarterback and not in the vast majority of ballgames in the NFL.

If we continually handoff the football tonight into 8 and 9 man fronts and dink and dunk the ball underneath we'll lose.

The majority of people know that. Hopefully our coaching staff does.

 

[CCBoy]

No they don't, not with a backup quarterback and not in the vast majority of ballgames in the NFL.

If we continually handoff the football tonight into 8 and 9 man fronts and dink and dunk the ball underneath we'll lose.

The majority of people know that. Hopefully our coaching staff does.

And if the sun never came up we'd all be in the dark...

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[CCBoy]

Take your cartoons and shove it.

Watch the game tonight and cross your fingers that we hand it off 60 times

Grow up preppie...

Look, are you saying that Collins was a downgrade in the offensive line? If you are, stay dumb.

Are you saying that Weeden was the reason for last week's showing against the Falcon's offense? If so, stay dumb

What were the only things changed to the Dallas team? First, in effect, the receiver group on the field. Then it was the number of first and second string players missing on the defensive line.

To the point, what changed was the defensive line and receiver group on the field.

The defense is better this week, and the offense should be productive, and yes, despite the missing of Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.

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