Position battleground (offense): Cowboys vs Saints head-to-head breakdown

The Dallas Cowboys offense was good enough for a win in Cleveland. Under Dak’s leadership, bolstered by his new contract, the unit displayed confidence and fluidity in their movements. As the game advanced and the team established an early, commanding lead, they became less aggressive and their stats suffered.

This week, the team will encounter a different challenge on the offensive front against the New Orleans Saints. While the pass rush threat may not be as significant this week, they will contend with a secondary that recorded the second-highest number of interceptions in the league last season and secured two interceptions in their recent match against the Carolina Panthers. So how do the offenses stack up against each other? Let’s battle it out by position and find out.

QUARTERBACK

Dak Prescott vs. Derek Carr

Dak got his deal right before kickoff on Sunday against Cleveland. He exhibited commendable composure and executed several precise passes during the game. However, his performance was somewhat inconsistent. He effectively guided the offense and orchestrated several impressive drives, yet the momentum waned in the second half. This decline can partly be ascribed to the play-calling, influenced by the substantial lead held by the Cowboys, but for the overall game it may also reflect Dallas trying to avoid letting the Browns pass rush disrupt things and cause turnovers. It is essential for Dak to demonstrate improvement this week to reassure fans that his difficulties from the previous game were merely a minor early-season jitter.

Dak should experience a more favorable situation this week due to the support from his offensive line. Last season, the Saints’ defensive line recorded the fourth-lowest number of sacks, and they were unable to secure any against the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line in their last matchup. All of the team’s sacks from the previous week were attributed to either a linebacker or cornerback. It is imperative for Dak to exercise caution regarding his ball placement this week, as this has been a recurring challenge for him. The Saints possess the ability to dominate a game through interceptions, having achieved 18 last season, surpassed only by San Francisco and Chicago.

Last week against the Carolina Panthers, Derek Carr had himself a day. He threw for a passing total of 200 yards, boasting an impressive completion rate of 82% along with three touchdown passes. However, the inconsistency of Carr remains a puzzling aspect. It’s always uncertain which version of Carr will appear on the day.

This season, he’s started with three touchdowns and no turnovers, contrasting sharply with the previous year, during which he recorded only six touchdowns against four interceptions in his first seven games. The element of pressure has proven to be significant; when Carr faces pressure, he struggles to locate his intended targets, although in the Panthers game he handled it very well. Last season, in games where he was sacked two or more times, his performance dwindled. He experienced ten games where he was sacked twice or more, resulting in a tally of 12 touchdowns against five interceptions, alongside three games in which he failed to score.

Conclusion:

It’s a positive start for both quarterbacks this year but the lack of pressure the Saints defense creates bodes well for Dak. Whereas the high amount the Cowboys defense creates makes a tough day for Carr to find a rhythm.
Win: Cowboys

Position battleground (offense): Cowboys vs Saints head-to-head breakdown

RUNNING BACK

Rico Dowdle/Ezekiel Elliott vs. Alvin Kamara/Jamaal Williams

It was a pleasure to witness Ezekiel Elliott’s touchdown last week, reestablishing his presence on the Dallas scorecard. There had been concerns regarding Zeke’s athleticism and whether he had lost some of his agility as he’s aged. However, his performance demonstrated that he remains in fine form. The hurdle he executed showcased his explosiveness and ability to run with strength. Unlike Tony Pollard’s experience last year, Zeke exhibited no difficulties in reaching the end zone when inside the opponent’s 10-yard line. Dowdle provided solid support, contributing with an explosive play that gained 10 yards. Additionally, Deuce Vaughn made an appearance with a rush that resulted in four yards.

This running back group will encounter a Saints defense that struggled with run defense last season, permitting the 11th-highest rushing yards at an average of 119 yards per game. However, the Saints improved their performance against the run within their red zone, indicating that Mike McCarthy will need to employ greater creativity as the field becomes more confined.

Alvin Kamara recorded 83 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 1. This performance marks the highest rushing yardage Kamara has attained in a single game since 2022, a game that, coincidentally, was also against the Panthers. Kamara had an impressive season in 2020, during which he accumulated a total of 21 touchdowns. However, his performance has significantly declined since then; last season, he managed only five touchdowns and rushed for a total of 694 yards, marking a career low. Jamaal Williams also found the end zone last week, yet he too is far from his 2022 form, in which he recorded 17 rushing touchdowns. In the previous year, he averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and managed to score only one touchdown.

Conclusion:

Last season both these defenses had issues stopping the run, but had good days in Week 1 of this season limiting rushers. In both cases what is also true is the level of offensive power both defenses faced in terms of rushing attack. Both sides still have questions at the position, this week maybe some of those questions get answered.
Win: Push

WIDE RECEIVERS

CeeDee Lamb/Brandin Cooks/Jalen Tolbert vs. Chris Olave/Rashid Shaheed/A.T. Perry

Anyone have Bradin Cooks as the Cowboys first touchdown scorer for this year? The pass was executed perfectly. Cooks had a fluctuating presence on the field last week but still managed to secure the second-most receptions on the team. Given the uncertainty surrounding the other receivers further down the depth chart, it is anticipated that Cooks will play a significant role again this week.

It is not surprising to note that Lamb topped the team in both receptions and receiving yards for Dallas last week. When Lamb operates from the slot this week, he can expect a more favorable matchup compared to the previous week. Alontae Taylor, who defends the slot for the Saints, led the team last year with 16 missed tackles. Additionally, he allowed a passer rating of 98.5, which was the second highest, and drew five penalties, ranking second on the Saints’ defense.

Chris Olave possesses the capability to dominate a game independently. Since his entry into the NFL, he has consistently exceeded 1,000 receiving yards each season. In last week’s matchup, the Panthers effectively contained him, limiting his performance to just two receptions for 11 yards. However, this defensive strategy allowed other receivers to thrive, collectively amassing 200 receiving yards.

Rashid Shaheed, who scored last week, led the team with 73 receiving yards and has shown steady improvement in both of his seasons with the Saints, emerging as an undrafted standout. His significant talent enables him to contribute effectively on plays such as jet sweeps, making him a valuable complement to Olave. Additionally, keep an eye on Perry this week regarding his hand injury, as he was a last-minute inactive player last week.

Conclusion:

Like last week on this segment, let’s break this down into component parts. Lamb is better than Olave, Cooks is better than Shaheed, Perry is questionable against a healthy Tolbert.
Win: Cowboys

TIGHT END

Jake Ferguson (or Luke Schoonmaker) vs. Foster Moreau

Last week, Ferguson made three catches. Unfortunately, he had to leave the game early due to what has been reported as an MCL sprain. This injury places him in the “week-to-week” category regarding his anticipated return. It is disheartening to witness a key player for this offense sustain an injury so early in the season; however, the positive aspect is that the injury is not season-ending. The Cowboys will likely roll with Luke Schoonmaker this week, who ahs yet to stand out as a tight end.

The status of the Saints’ starting tight end also remains uncertain. Moreau is currently in concussion protocol following an evaluation during the fourth quarter of last week’s game, after which he did not return. Additionally, both teams’ backup tight ends face uncertainties, unless you consider Taysom Hill as the primary option to step in.

Conclusion:

This positional clash is a huge mystery based on what happens in terms of health. Should Luke Schoonmaker come in as the starter this week, he faces a defense that allowed the second-most touchdowns to the tight end position last year.
Win: Push (because of injury concerns)

OFFENSIVE LINE

The performance of the Cowboys’ offensive line exceeded expectations last week, with both rookies demonstrating commendable skills. Cooper Beebe’s ability to maintain a clean game despite significant pressure has not received the attention it deserves. This offensive line encountered a formidable challenge last week and responded exceptionally well. Maintaining health is crucial, and thus far, there have been no adverse reports concerning any of the starting five. They are set to confront a defense that is unlikely to exert the same level of pressure as Cleveland.

The Saints front office made efforts to enhance the teams defensive line during the offseason by acquiring Khalen Saunders from Kansas and Chase Young from San Francisco. However, last week, that unit could only muster 22 total pressures, which is wildly low. Guyton will be matched against Cameron Jordan, who, at nearly 36 years old, is advancing in age, and also Carl Granderson, who is steadily emerging as a defensive positive for New Orleans. Granderson recorded eight sacks last year, leading the team. A significant concern for the Saints lies in their run-stopping capabilities. It will be interesting to watch how this newly assembled Cowboys offensive line leans on its physicality to assert dominance at the line of scrimmage and create opportunities for the running backs.

The Saints bolstered their offensive line during the draft by selecting Taliese Fuaga in the first round. In his debut game, he successfully prevented any sacks or pressures. Although he experienced some challenges as a run blocker, his overall performance in his first NFL game was commendable. Evaluating the Saints’ offensive line based on last week’s performance presents a challenge. While it is encouraging that they allowed no sacks and only two pressures throughout the entire game, it is important to note that they were up against the Panthers. The upcoming matchup against the formidable Dallas pass rush will serve as a significant test for them, especially considering they may have to proceed without their starting left guard, Lucas Patrick, who exited the game early due to a toe injury.
Win: Cowboys