The Dallas Cowboys are making the trip to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football, giving the Saints another tough challenge just one week after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in rainy CenturyLink Field.
The Cowboys are currently 3-0, but have faced the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and Miami Dolphins. None of those three teams are considered to be strong contenders. Therefore, the first real test for quarterback Dak Prescott and company this year will come in the form of the Saints. Several key matchups will define the outcome of this game.
Saints LB Demario Davis vs. Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott
The entire New Orleans run defense unit has not looked as stellar as the 2018 squad. This year alone the Saints have given up five touchdowns on the ground and are having a tough go of containing running backs. A large part of this can be contributed to the loss of Sheldon Rankins for the first three games of the season. It is a possibility we’ll see Rankins back in some capacity on Sunday, but he’s not a lock to return just yet.
The real difference-maker on this defense to stop Elliott on Sunday will have to be Demario Davis. He has been one of the best free agents signings in years for New Orleans and his work will be cut out for him. The loss of linebacker Alex Anzalone for the season will put more pressure on Davis to step up and stop the talented Elliott. It will be a tough task considering Elliott is one of the top running backs in the league who has averaged over 5.3 yards per carry this season and added two touchdowns in just three games. With the way Davis has been playing of late there is a very good chance he steps up in a big way.
Saints CB Marshon Lattimore vs. Cowobys WR Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper is one of the league’s hottest wide receivers going into Week 4; he’s caught four touchdown passes this year in just the first three games. The wideout is also averaging 79 receiving yards per game this season. Considering just how dangerous Cooper is, the Saints secondary will have their hands full on Sunday night once again.
That means Marshon Lattimore should draw the coverage against Cooper. To be successful, Lattimore will have to find the same form he’s shown in stretches, such as when he took home the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. His performance this season has been a far cry from that level of production. Lattimore has been a part of a secondary that has allowed six receiving touchdowns this season alone. While his performance has been acceptable, Lattimore is going to have to reach back and find the extra gear that everyone knows he has to be successful against the Prescott-Cooper combo. Much of the success the Saints will find on defense against Dallas will stem from the level of play from Lattimore. If the cornerback can find ways to make big plays and limit Cooper, the Saints will have the distinct advantage.
Alvin Kamara vs The Entire Dallas Cowboys Defense
Alvin Kamara’s career performance last Sunday against the Seahawks was instrumental in helping the Saints to the victory line. Kamara posted 69 yards rushing with a touchdown and added another nine receptions for 92 yards and a receiving touchdown. Seattle’s defense could do nothing to contain the Saint’s running back on the ground or through the air.
Kamara ripped through the fourth-best rushing defense in the Seahawks and now gets to face Dallas who is ranked as the tenth-best rushing defense in the NFL. As far as pass defenses are concerned, both the Cowboys and Seahawks are adjacent to each other in the rankings at fifteenth and sixteenth, respectively. Kamara should have a field day on Sunday against a Dallas defense that is not a highly regarded as Seattle’s. Another huge day that sees Kamara once again put the team on his back will be key to another Saints victory against a very tough opponent for the second straight week.
Saints DC Dennis Allen vs. Cowboys OC Kellen Moore
Allen called a great game against the Seahawks a week ago, dialing up pressure packages and eventually making Seattle’s running game a non-factor. He often made the right call to blitz Russell Wilson or hang back in coverage, but Wilson simply made the right reads (and right throws) to get his receivers in position to make a play on the ball. Wilson’s ability to escape pressure from the very active Saints pass-rush unit and avoid sacks can’t be underrated enough.
The good news is that there’s no mistaking Wilson for Dak Prescott. Prescott isn’t nearly as adept at navigating a crowded pocket or putting as much touch on his passes. The bad news for the Saints is that Moore, the first-year Cowboys play-caller, has really opened the playbook and put Prescott into position to succeed. Look for him to try and take advantage of shaky tackling by the Saints defense to get his running backs open underneath for big gains, and test the secondary early and often with plenty of deep targets off of play-action.
