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The Saints will put their ten game winning streak on the line on Thursday night when they head to Dallas to take on the surging Cowboys.
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While the Saints have lit the world on fire lately, their schedule has been pretty favorable as of late. Their three latest wins, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati, have come against three teams with very low confidence and somewhat of a defeatist mindset. That will not be the same on Thursday as the Cowboys have won three in a row to take their spot atop the NFC East. New Orleans is trying to stay atop the NFC for home field purposes while the Cowboys are fighting for their playoff lives. The Saints are -7.5 point favorites in this preview of a potential playoff match up in the NFC.
New Orleans With 10 in a Row
What else can be said about the Saints that has not been said already? Drew Brees is the MVP of the league as he is throwing for 285 yards a game with 29 touchdowns to 2 interceptions. His 127.3 qb rating is absolutely absurd and he is completing almost 77% of all his passes. New Orleans also features three guys with 30+ carries who are averaging right at 5.0 yards per carry. My point is, the Saints can move the ball down the field any way they want to. The Saints have scored 30+ points in five consecutive games, but will be facing a Dallas defense that has not given up 30+ points in any of their eleven games so far. It is no secret that New Orleans will want to speed up the game, run as many plays as possible, and try to turn this one into a track meet.
Cowboys Looking to Stay Hot
Dallas will attempt to counter that with a strong run game and limiting the Saints’ offensive possessions. To be able to do that, they will need to run the ball and covert on third down. New Orleans run defense has been the best in the league this year, averaging just 72.3 rushing yards per game, but that number may be skewed by blowing everyone out and forcing other teams to pass the ball. Regardless, Ezekiel Elliott is the key to this game, as he is the key to the game for most of the Cowboys match ups, but in this one it is exaggerated. Elliott cannot allow the Cowboys offense to fall into third and longs and have the game be put on the arm of Dak Prescott.
Pick and Prediction
The key to this one for the Saints is to do just that: force Dak Prescott to beat you. While Prescott is serviceable as a passer, he certainly is not one of the top at his position like Elliott is. New Orleans is going to score their points and Prescott does not have the ability to win a shootout for Dallas. The only way Dallas wins this game is long runs and short passes. If the Saints can stop the long runs, then there is no short passes.
At this point, how can you bet against the Saints, regardless of the line? Dallas will slow them down, but not enough. Saints win and cover, 34-24.
