ARLINGTON, Texas- The Dallas Cowboys proved they are a contender in the win against the New Orleans Saints 13 to 10. The game marked the fourth straight win for Dallas, the longest since the team’s 11-game streak in 2016. The Cowboys’ defense held the Saints who have averaged 37 points a game and scored on 61% of their drives to 10 points; the fewest in 2018 by the Saints. The defense also held their offense to 176 yards, the fewest total net yards for the Saints all season.
The Cowboys came out attacking on both sides of the football. Offensively, Dallas took an early lead with a 26-yard field goal by Brett Maher, set up by a 40-yard pass to Michael Gallup from Dak Prescott, and a touchdown run by Ezekiel Elliott on a 16-yard screen pass from Prescott. Dak finished 24 of 28 for 248 yards, one touchdown, and a 115.5 QB rating. He had 18 straight completions in the game accomplishing a career best.
The defense held the Saints to 2:59 in time of possession in the first quarter and to 16 total yards. DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford did a great job off the edge getting to Drew Brees and shutting down throwing lanes. Byron Jones and Anthony Brown did a tremendous job in the Cowboys’ secondary beating receivers on man-to-man with their aggression and ability to get their hands on the ball to break up the pass and force an incompletion. Brown also had a sack on Brees and Xavier Woods had a forced fumble in the ballgame.
Leighton Vander Esch led the team defensively with 10 combined tackles and passed Roy Williams for the second-highest tackle total by a rookie in team history with 129. Jaylon Smith had nine combined tackles, allowing him to reach a single-season-career-high and collectively reach 200 for his career. The two linebackers were all over the field making critical stops to put the Cowboys’ offense back on the field.
Following the game Prescott stated, “ We are not surrendering to anyone. We are moving forward and taking it one game at a time. We will grow in every phase of the game…when you have the defense we have against the offense they have, how can you not be confident? Our defense had our back and we have to handle our own and have theirs. “
The defense played the game they had to play in order to come away with a win. They put up a fight on every snap, harassed Brees all night, and kept RB Alvin Kamara to 36 rushing yards on 11 carries, for an average of 3.3 yards per carry. The defense had several penalties from Byron Jones and Randy Gregory that put the Saints in a more favorable position on the field and they have to minimize those moving forward as they face division rival Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.
The momentum shifted to the Saints in the third quarter after their first trip to the end zone. The Cowboys defense held up their side of the bargain. An interception by Jourdan Lewis late in the fourth sealed the win for Dallas. The Cowboys beat a Saints team that was coming off a 10-straight win streak and considered one of the hottest in the league. This game was more of a sign to everyone else on the outside looking in of what this Cowboys’ team is capable of and they certainly accomplished their goal tonight. They showed they can run with the elite pack in the league. They went from being a 3-5 team, to becoming a team that is 7-5 and leads the NFC East. Do not count the Dallas Cowboys out. They are here to fight!
