1st Down: Q1 Big-Play Olave wrecks the Cowboys’ zone defense
Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
NO-1-10-DAL 44 (11:34) D.Carr pass deep right to C.Olave pushed ob at DAL 5 for 39 yards (T.Diggs).
On the game’s opening drive, the Saints looked to establish their offensive identity and rhythm. Dallas had a chance to force a 3-and-out but the pressure from Micah Parsons was muted by Alvin Kamara, allowing Carr enough time to find Rashid Shaheed on a crossing pattern where he had broken free from rookie CB Caelen Carson for 17 yards.
Three plays later, the big play of the drive took place.
On 1st-and-10 from the Cowboys’ 44-yard line, the Saints lined up in 12 personnel with a tight end inline right before motioning to inline left. The Move tight end, Foster Moreau, followed him from a Z alignment into the backfield as extra protection. The Cowboys were in zone, and LCB Trevon Diggs bailed backwards as Moreau began his motion.
Carr was under center allowing a mild play-action fake to Alvin Kamara and there was no pressure to be found. Chris Olave was aligned on Diggs side of the field and after the defender bailed, crossed inside over the middle with several yards of free space to roam. He got to the right sideline before turning upfield for what would be a 39-yard completion to set up 1st-and-goal from the five yard line.
Kamara would easily get into the end zone on the next play to open the scoring.
2nd Down: Q1 – Refs put the screws to Dallas early
Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) hands off to running back Rico Dowdle (23) in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
1 DAL-1-20-NO 45 (6:19) (Shotgun) R.Dowdle right guard to NO 42 for 3 yards (C.Granderson; N.Shepherd).
Make no mistake about it, Dallas got mollywhopped in this contest and the vast majority was their own undoing. Early on though, Dallas had a chance to respond and go toe-to-toe in what immediately looked like a shootout. But the refs were not on their job. A wheel route to Rico Dowdle looked like there could’ve been defensive pass interference called on LB Demario Davis for making contact while face guarding, but there wasn’t.
A little later, an offsetting flag on a deep ball by Dak Prescott was picked up. Lamb was clearly interfered with, but the ball was so far out of bounds they couldn’t make the call and Tyler Guyton was left holding the bag on a holding penalty, pushing Dallas back to 1st-and-20 from the Saints’ 45.
Out of S11 with the RB behind him Prescott handed off to Dowdle who gained just three yards on the draw, when a loud grown emerged from the home crowd. The replay showed that Dowdle had his entire head turned around when Davis slowed him down by his facemask. It should’ve been a 15-yard penalty and 1st down from the 27, but instead the drive fizzled, leading to a Brandon Aubrey 52-yard field goal.
The Saints scored touchdowns on their first six drives, but one has to wonder what the game looks like if the Cowboys score a touchdown on that drive; which the ref crew made impossible by leaving Dallas behind the sticks.
3rd Down: Q1 – The need to squash Shaheed’s speed burns the secondary
Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass past Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (6) during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
NO-1-10-NO 30 (4:14) D.Carr pass deep middle to R.Shaheed for 70 yards, TOUCHDOWN [O.Odighizuwa].
It took just one play for the Saints to stretch their advantage. After a touchback brought the ball out to the 30-yard line, New Orleans broke the huddle in 21 personnel, with FB Adam Prentice aligned outside the TE right, but motioning into inline left position prior to the snap.
Another play action look but this time Carr takes an extra beat, turning away from a big hit by DT Osa Odighizuwa to let it fly. WR Rashid Shaheed was passed off by Carson as Dallas was in zone again, and he raced down the middle of the field past first Malik Hooker and then Donovan Wilson. Carr dropped a dime in his breadbasket 50 yards downfield as Shaheed ran the final 20 into the end zone for a 14-3 lead.
4th Down: Slip and Slide… Jalen Brooks can’t keep his footing and Dallas’ comeback hopes are dashed
Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (29) returns an interception against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
DAL-1-10-DAL 49 (1:20) (Shotgun) D.Prescott pass deep right intended for J.Brooks INTERCEPTED by P.Adebo at NO 33. P.Adebo to DAL 20 for 47 yards (E.Elliott; D.Prescott).
With the score 28-13, the Cowboys are sliding fast. They’ve shown no ability to stop the Saints and the only real hope is to pull off the bookend and score touchdowns to close the half and then open the third quarter.
On 3rd-and-10 from their own 38, Prescorr had to escape the pocket and found Brandin Cooks on the right sideline for 11 to save the drive. For one play.
On the next play, Prescott fired a bullet to WR Jalen Brooks, who was in the clear on the post route but he slipped making his break, stumbling down. A timing route, Prescott had already released the ball and it went directly into the hands of CB Paulson Adebo, who returned it 49 yards down to the Cowboys’ 20-yard line.
New Orleans tacked on their fifth touchdown of the half, giving them the insurmountable 35-13 lead.
Ballgame.
