When the New Orleans Saints visit Jerry’s World on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys will be trying to start their season 2-0. The Saints will also seek to maintain their perfect record after defeating the Carolina Panthers in Week 1.
So, how can the Cowboys defeat the Saints in Week 2?
Here are three reasons the Cowboys will win.
3. Stop the Pass Rush.
The Cowboys’ offensive line features two rookies, left tackle Tyler Guyton and center Cooper Beebe. Their first test came against a powerful Cleveland Browns defensive front that recorded three sacks in the Week One game.
Last week, the Saints recorded four sacks against a struggling Panthers team. The Cowboys offensive line will outperform the Panthers. However, the Saints demonstrated that they could get to the quarterback regardless of the competition’s ability level. Stopping the pass rush will be critical in a Cowboys victory.
2. Utilize The Secondary
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the Saints were 15th in pass coverage last week. Those figures are not encouraging for a squad that was previously the worst in the league and will now face a formidable duo in Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Expect the Cowboys to open up downfield early and often.
1. Keep Up the Pressure
Last week, both the Cowboys and the Saints got to the quarterback on many occasions. Last week, Dallas had 40 team pressures, while the Detroit Lions came in second with 29. Mike Zimmer’s fingerprints are all over this defense, like a baby who recently discovered a bag of Cheetos. The Saints allowed only one sack last week, but something tells me that quarterback Derek Carr may have a difficult day on Sunday.
