NEW ORLEANS — Don’t let Thursday’s 27-17 win over the short-handed and reeling New Orleans Saints fool you, all is still not well with the Dallas Cowboys.
Not on or off the field.
But the main thing is the main thing. The Cowboys (8-4) got back in the win column and will keep at least a two-game lead in the NFC East.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Saints (5-7), who played without their top quarterback, top two tackles, best running back and best pass rusher.
The Cowboys, who had lost two straight and three of the last four, played the game without six coaches, most notably head coach Mike McCarthy, due to COVID-19. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn served as the interim coach.
Credit the defense, which got four interceptions off quarterback Taysom Hill, including three in the fourth quarter from safety Damontae Kazee, cornerback Trevon Diggs, who recorded his league-leading ninth of the season, and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, who returned his 29 yards to the end zone.
But the Cowboys offense continued to struggle behind quarterback Dak Prescott, who was inconsistent for much of the day, and a seemingly nonexistent running game.
The Cowboys will have to fix things before a crucial five game-stretch to end the season that begins at the Washington Football Team on Dec. 12.
The Cowboys had hoped the return of their top two receivers in Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence from COVID-19, a concussion and a fractured foot, respectively, would make a difference in the team’s quest to end a two-game losing streak.
The offense suffered without Cooper, who missed the past two losses against the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders, and Lamb, who missed the Raiders game after suffering a concussion in the second quarter of the Chiefs.
And while the Cowboys managed Cooper’s reps after missing so much practice time and a lack of conditioning, his presence proved to be huge.
Cooper’s 41-yard catch on the third drive of the game sparked an 80-yard drive that featured the greatness of all three of the team’s top receivers.
Lamb had a 33-yard run on a lateral and Prescott got the capper with a 1-yard toss to Michael Gallup, who caught a jump ball in the corner of the end zone and tapped his toes in bounds.
It was the first time since the season opener that Gallup, Cooper and Lamb were on the field together as Lamb missed seven games with a calf strain.
The Cowboys led 13-7 at halftime thanks to a spectacular interception by safety Jayron Kearse, who dove for a tipped ball near the sideline and got both feet in bounds, turning back a potential Saints scoring drive with 2:19 left in the half.
The Cowboys turned it into a 37-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein, who made a 55-yarder earlier in the quarter.
The Saints, who got a 24-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Lil’Jordan Humphrey in the second quarter, cut the lead to 13-10 in the third quarter with a 42-yard field goal from Brett Maher.
Hill proved to be the engine on the drive with quarterback runs of 23, 4, 8 and 6 yards.
Tony Pollard finally gave the Cowboys some breathing room and a 20-10 lead with a 58-yard touchdown run to the end zone down the left sideline.
Before that play, Pollard and Elliott combined for 11 carries for 20 yards, including four for 6 from Pollard.
Hill brought the Saints back again with quarterback runs of 23, 4 and 6. But on third-and-2 at the Dallas 26, rookie linebacker Micah Parsons saved the day when he sacked Hill for an 11-yard loss, forcing a punt.
The defense saved the Cowboys again in the fourth quarter when Prescott forced a pass to Lamb and was intercepted by Marshon Lattimore.
Kazee returned the favor with an interception off a tipped pass from Hill.
The interceptions by Diggs and Watkins would soon follow.
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