Key Ingredients for Victory: Saints vs. Cowboys

Last week’s win over Carolina means nothing in terms of this week’s win over Dallas, especially since the New Orleans Saints (1-0) will be a much tougher matchup when they play the Cowboys (1-0) on Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

All the good feelings after the season opener, a 47-10 win over the Panthers, have been pushed aside. Here are a few ways to create new ones:

If there’s one thing Dallas can do defensively, it’s pressure quarterbacks. The Cowboys (46 sacks last season) entered 2024 with six sacks and 25 pressures against Cleveland. The Saints kept quarterback Derek Carr clean against Carolina (allowing one sack), but the task becomes exponentially greater against Dallas. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (eight pressures, two sacks) and linebacker Micah Parsons (one sack, nine pressures) caused havoc against Cleveland, so the spotlight will be on the Saints’ tackles — likely first-year right tackle Trevor Penning and possibly four-year veteran Landon Young at left tackle, if rookie Taliese Fuaga (back) can’t play. How much can they handle solo, how much help is needed, and how will it affect what the Saints want to do offensively? That’s what the Saints will have to decide.

The best way to combat the rush is to run the ball effectively, and New Orleans had 180 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries against Carolina. Alvin Kamara (20 touches for 110 yards in the opener) should be involved just as much here, if not more at receiver (five catches, 27 yards against Carolina), because short passes can equate to run plays. If Carr needs to get off the ball quickly, Kamara is a great option as an outlet.