Bobhaze
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One thing that makes the NFL so fun is the reality that every opponent each week is a new challenge. What happened last week does not guarantee the same performance - good or bad - will happen every week.
So this week we face the Saints, fresh off their thumping of the hapless Carolina Panthers in their opener. Last year the saints were 9-8, barely missing the playoffs by losing the NFC South to Tampa Bay. This year the saints start their third season under head coach Dennis Allen, who has a 16-18 record as HC in NO. Allen’s seat is considered warm going into year 3. An interesting side note about Allen is he is from the Dallas area, attending LD Bell High School in Hurst and later Texas A&M.
The saints are attempting to rebuild after the departures of future HOF QB Drew Brees (2020) and probable HOF HC Sean Payton (2021). Their talent cupboard is neither full nor empty. In 2023 the 9-8 saints were 14th in total offense and 13th in total defense.
ALL TIME RECORD VS SAINTS: Cowboys lead all time series 18-13.
STRENGTHS
So this week we face the Saints, fresh off their thumping of the hapless Carolina Panthers in their opener. Last year the saints were 9-8, barely missing the playoffs by losing the NFC South to Tampa Bay. This year the saints start their third season under head coach Dennis Allen, who has a 16-18 record as HC in NO. Allen’s seat is considered warm going into year 3. An interesting side note about Allen is he is from the Dallas area, attending LD Bell High School in Hurst and later Texas A&M.
The saints are attempting to rebuild after the departures of future HOF QB Drew Brees (2020) and probable HOF HC Sean Payton (2021). Their talent cupboard is neither full nor empty. In 2023 the 9-8 saints were 14th in total offense and 13th in total defense.
ALL TIME RECORD VS SAINTS: Cowboys lead all time series 18-13.
- This has been a streaky series. Cowboys won the first 7 games and the saints won 6 in a row in the early 2000s.
- Since 1998, the saints are 8-4 against Dallas.
- The Cowboys won the last matchup in 2021 played in NO, 27-17.
STRENGTHS
- He’s not great, but Saints QB Derek Carr is good. He’s 73-87 all time as a starter, mostly for the raiders who had mostly bad teams when Carr was there. Carr’s last start against us was in 2021 when he was with raiders' beating us 36-33 on Turkey Day. He threw for 373 yards that day so he can sling it around. And Carr was 19-23 in the Panthers game showing good accuracy.
- RB Alvin Kamara is 29, older than Zeke, but has shown he has enough in the tank to still be above average. He rushed for 85 yards last week and is still an excellent receiver out of the backfield.
- PR/KR Rashid Shaheed is an outstanding punt and kick returner. He was a pro bowler last year and is a real weapon in the return game.
- Rookie LT Taliese Fuaga saints rookie LT has a bright future and had a great game against the panthers.
- LB Willie Gay, Jr- has a SB ring with KC and has been a solid LB in NO.
- Both sides of the ball they are above average but not spectacular. Offensively, their OL is young and has several new members.
- Their secondary has injuries- S Tyrann Matthews and CB Marshawn Lattimore are hurt and may not play. Both are older and not nearly as effective as years past.
- They have had some problems last year with K Blake Grupe who is back this year after being 30-37 on FGs last year. He started off this year going 4-4 so has improved to start the year.
