DMN Blog: Babe Laufenberg on whether Cowboys can beat Saints

[bracey]

Babe's right, anything can happen. Any real team shows up for the Cowboys though. We're not going to see the Saints that played the Dolphins or Rams. The road games vs. Wash., Atl., and Carolina are all tougher tests for them. Unless we pressure Brees and protect Romo, we have no chance. We've had problems with both things at various times this year.

 

[Verdict]

The way they are playing right now they would give anyone serious trouble.

Beating New England is one thing, but the way they did it was impressive. Belichick usually has his teams prepared to the tee, they looked disorganized and completely confounded, which is rare.

It is not that the Patriots have a great defense. They really don't. Their pass defense is one of the worst. It was easy to see that the Saints would move the football.

I was more impressed how they played defensively. That is what is making them win. The offense gets the headlines, but Gregg Williams has that defense doing very well.

The Saints were also seriously mentally geared up to beat the Patriots and had a damn near perfect game. It is almost impossible for a team to maintain that degree of intensity and motivation. The odds of them playing at that level and that focus and that level of perfection for 5 more games is highly unlikely. It is a lot more likely that we will beat the Saints than it was for the Raiders to beat Philly, but it certainly happened. Games are not played on paper. I doubt that if the Saints were to play the Pats again in the S.B. that the result would be so one sided.

 

[kevsstang]

It is more important to beat Giants and Philly simply because they are divisional teams. If we beat those two Dallas should be in the playoffs. I truly believe dallas can and will beat the saints. I saw the game last night and i know they beat the Patriots, but that is not the same patriots team that won SB. Looking at the saints schedule it is weak. Their tough games Giants, Eagles, Patriots, Dallas that's it. Look at the other teams records not many winning teams.

The Patriots defense is worse than ours in all aspects. i would line our CBs on their Wr and say beat us. keep Sensabaug on shockey. The key should be our OL. They will win it or lose it. It probably sounds like a homer prediction but i think we have the best shot at winning. Hope i am right. GO COWBOYS!!!

 

[windward]

I feel the same way.

Saints destroy us though.

41-10.

Considering your accuracy so far this year, that's a good sign.

How's that 5-11 prediction working out?

 

[28 Joker]

The way they are playing right now they would give anyone serious trouble.

Beating New England is one thing, but the way they did it was impressive. Belichick usually has his teams prepared to the tee, they looked disorganized and completely confounded, which is rare.

It is not that the Patriots have a great defense. They really don't. Their pass defense is one of the worst. It was easy to see that the Saints would move the football.

I was more impressed how they played defensively. That is what is making them win. The offense gets the headlines, but Gregg Williams has that defense doing very well.

I thought the exact same thing. They are missing both starting CBs, too. I was thinking how I wish Dallas had Robert Meachem on their team. Meachem could be a feature guy for other teams.

I still like the Vikings better than the Saints, but I might be wrong.

Dallas has too far to go to think about the Saints, imo. I'd trade the Saints game for the Washington game right now.

If the Cowboys can get the #3 seed, they are going to be dangerous if they win their first game.

 

[28 Joker]

Yeah, if it weren't for that, I could probably root for them. And I might still if they make a Super Bowl, depending on who they play. (Of course I'm rooting for them to lose now while we still have a chance to catch them.)

But that '06 game still sticks in my craw.

When we play them, they can't pick on the safeties the entire game. They will have to actually do something else.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I feel the same way.

Saints destroy us though.

41-10.

:laugh2:

Now I actually think we have a chance. Daboys is making football predictions.

We'll win for sure now.

 

[AsthmaField]

and has Asthma field ever heard of division rivalry?

I have... which is why the Saints upcoming game in Atlanta is particularly interesting. Like the Rams, the Commanders aren't in their division and aren't a very good team. They might just give New Orleans a game being that it is in an outdoor stadium in what will probably be poor conditions.

Why would you ask if I know what a division rivalry is? That seems a little odd.

 

[Steven_81]

Honesty i pause and thought the samething and then began to think. Any team can lose to anyone at any time Example: againt the rams they almost got beat. Dallas a much better team. i think dallas' december woes will end.
AFC Championship
Colts vs Chargers

NFC Chaipionship
Dallas vs Vikings

Superbowl
Colts Vs Dallas
21-20

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

We're going to beat the Saints.

 

[casmith07]

We travel to The Meadowlands on Sunday.

 

[casmith07]

Considering your accuracy so far this year, that's a good sign.

How's that 5-11 prediction working out?

Aloha-owned.

 

[Aikbach]

New Orleans has to be the super bowl favorites at this point, only Minnesota and Indy appear poised to possibly stop them.

 

[Rampage]

We're going to beat the Saints.

I agree
I think

 

[Hostile]

Considering your accuracy so far this year, that's a good sign.

How's that 5-11 prediction working out?

DaBoys4Life >>> :spanking: <<< windward

 

[AsthmaField]

We travel to The Meadowlands on Sunday.

Yes, and I agree that is who the Cowboys should be focusing on. And I'm sure the team is. I can't imagine them overlooking the hated New York Football Giants. The Cowboys really do hate them more than any other team in the league.

It might have been possible for the Cowboys to be looking ahead to the Saints if it were any other team but the Giants... but not against them. Not after we already lost to them once this season. Not with it now being December.

 

[dbair1967]

We're going to beat the Saints.

We just need to beat the Giants first. With the way we are playing right now, winning two of the next three would be quite an accomplishment. Not saying we cant, and not saying winning all three isnt possible. But when we are playing as mediocre as we are against teams like Washington and Oakland, expecting us to beat the league's elite is far fetched.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

We just need to beat the Giants first. With the way we are playing right now, winning two of the next three would be quite an accomplishment. Not saying we cant, and not saying winning all three isnt possible. But when we are playing as mediocre as we are against teams like Washington and Oakland, expecting us to beat the league's elite is far fetched.

For you perhaps. I believe we can beat the Saints.

 

[Chuck 54]

The real issue isn't how many points the Saints will score on Dallas. We have a much better defense than the Patriots. The Saints have won some close games against inferior opponents. Brees does turn the ball over at times.

The Cowboys can hold the Saints to 20 points or even fewer on a good day.

To me, the real issue is whether or not the Cowboys can score on the Saints defense. I believe we can run on them, and we'd better be able to because if we have to live by the pass, I think it will be ugly with our receivers trying to get free against their defense...that usually spells turnovers for Romo.

It's a game I'm looking forward to, but it will be an upset if Dallas wins. It could end up being our NYG/NE game...even if we lose and play well, it could bode well for a playoff run.

 

[dbair1967]

For you perhaps. I believe we can beat the Saints.

I didnt say we couldnt beat the Saints. I said expecting a win after what we've seen from us (and from them) is far fetched. They've had a couple of close calls, but they are waxing most of the teams they play, good or bad. They are also forcing a ton of turnovers, something we've been prone to doing offensively over the years, and something we do with extreme rarity when we are on defense.