Dallas Cowboys vs New Orleans Saints Picks and Predictions September 15th 2024

The Saints and Cowboys will face off on Sunday, September 15th at 1:00 ET on FOX. The Cowboys are favored in this week two matchup, being played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. The Cowboys’ money line odds are -290, while the Saints are at +235. The current point spread has the Cowboys -6.5, with the over/under line at 45.5 points.

New Orleans vs. Dallas Key Information

• Teams: Saints at Cowboys
• Where: AT&T Stadium Arlington
• Date: Sunday, September 15th
• Betting Odds DAL -290 | NO +235 O/U 45.5

The Saints Can Win If…

Improving to 1-0 on the season, the Saints crushed the Panthers 47-10, easily covering the -3.5 point spread with their 37-point victory. New Orleans took an early 17-0 lead, and the game was never in doubt, with the Saints leading 30-3 at halftime. The over/under line was 41.5 points, and the teams combined for 57 points.

After the Panthers scored their first points in the 3rd quarter, the Saints added touchdowns in the 3rd and 4th quarters to close out the game. Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes, the first to Rashid Shaheed and the second to Foster Moreau. Blake Grupe also contributed with two field goals of 50+ yards in the 2nd quarter.

In their 47-10 win over the Panthers, the Saints’ offense was led by quarterback Derek Carr, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns. New Orleans’ offense put up 22 first downs and 199 yards passing. Carr finished with a passer rating of 142 and was not sacked during the game.

Alvin Kamara led the ground game with 83 yards on 15 carries, including a touchdown and a long run of 17 yards. Rashid Shaheed was the top receiver, with 73 yards and a touchdown. The Saints’ offense had a good day on third down, converting 53.8% of their chances.

In their most recent game, the Saints’ defense was dominant, allowing just 135 passing yards and forcing the Panthers to complete only 13 passes. They also intercepted two passes and held Carolina to a 41.9% completion rate. The Saints’ defense was also strong against the run, allowing just 58 yards on 20 attempts. On third downs, they allowed just a 10% conversion rate.

New Orleans’ defense also put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, with four sacks and a +4 advantage in the QB hit battle. Overall, the Saints won the game 47-10, and their defense played a significant role in the victory.

• Over their last three games, the Saints have gone 3-0 straight up. This also includes going 3-0 ATS and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• New Orleans has put together a record of 6-4 in their last ten games (regular season). Across these games, their ATS record was just 5-5, while posting an over-under record of 5-5.

The Cowboys Can Win If…

After their 33-17 win over the Browns, the Cowboys are now 1-0. Dallas was on the road for this one and came into the game as +2 point underdogs. The Cowboys not only won straight-up but also covered the spread with their 16-point victory. The combined 50 points easily went over the total line of 41.5 points.

Dallas took a 20-3 lead at halftime and added a field goal in the 3rd and 4th quarters. The Browns’ only touchdown in the first three quarters came in the 3rd quarter, and they added a late touchdown in the 4th. The Cowboys got a big game from Brandon Aubrey, who kept adding to their lead with multiple field goals after their early touchdown.

The Cowboys’ offense picked up 15 first downs in their 33-17 win over the Browns, with Dak Prescott and the passing game putting up 163 yards. Prescott completed 19 of 32 passes (59.4%) for 179 yards and one touchdown. Dallas struggled on third down, converting only 28.6% of their chances and their offense allowed three sacks.

Ezekiel Elliott led the team with 40 rushing yards on 10 attempts, including a long run of 9 yards and one touchdown. CeeDee Lamb was the leading receiver with 61 yards, including a 34-yard catch.

Despite giving up 93 rushing yards on just 19 attempts, the Cowboys’ defense was strong in their most recent game, holding the Browns to 137 yards passing in their 33-17 win. Dallas’ defense came away with two interceptions and limited Cleveland to a 13.3% third-down conversion rate. They also recorded six sacks and held the Browns to 17 points.

• Dallas has put together a record of 2-1 over their past three games. This includes going 1-2 vs. the spread and posting an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Cowboys have gone 9-1 straight up. Their record vs the spread sits at 7-3 in these matchups, while posting a 7-3 over-under mark.

The Lean

Our pick against the spread is to take the Cowboys to cover as home favorites in this week two matchup between the Saints and Cowboys. The point spread lines have the Saints as 6.5-point favorites, and we have the Cowboys pulling off the upset by a score of 23-16.

For the over/under line, we are leaning towards taking the under, with a projected combined score of 39 points and the line sitting at 45.5 points.

Saints and Cowboys Ready for NFC Showdown in Arlington

The New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys are both riding high after impressive Week 1 victories, but they’ll face a tough test this Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Saints quarterback Derek Carr will face one of the league’s most aggressive defenses, led by the returning Trevon Diggs and the always dangerous Micah Parsons.

Trevon Diggs Returns in Style

Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys’ All-Pro cornerback, is returning to AT&T Stadium for the first time since suffering a torn ACL nearly a year ago. He made his mark in Week 1 with an interception that helped the Cowboys secure a 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Diggs’ ability to disrupt the Saints’ passing game will be critical in Sunday’s matchup. If he picks off Derek Carr, Diggs would join an elite group of cornerbacks with 20 interceptions in their first 50 career games.

Carr Prepares for Cowboys’ Defensive Pressure

After leading the Saints to a dominant 47-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Derek Carr knows the challenge that awaits him in Dallas. The Cowboys’ defense, which racked up 24 quarterback pressures on Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, is spearheaded by Micah Parsons—a player Carr compared to Von Miller for his unique ability to pressure the quarterback and also drop into coverage.

Carr will need to rely heavily on his playmakers, especially with injuries hampering the Saints’ defense. The health of key defensive players like Marshon Lattimore and defensive linemen Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey—all listed as questionable—could also dictate how the Saints approach their game plan.

Cowboys Offense Deals with Injuries

The Cowboys are not without their own injury concerns. Tight ends Jake Ferguson and John Stephens are dealing with injuries, with Ferguson doubtful and Stephens ruled out for Sunday. Despite these setbacks, Dallas’ offense remains potent, anchored by Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott, who are coming off strong performances in Week 1.

Prescott will look to build on the team’s success while taking advantage of the Saints’ defensive gaps. Even with those injuries, Dallas has shown it can produce on the ground, which will be a key factor in controlling the pace of the game.

Key Matchups to Watch

1. Trevon Diggs vs. Derek Carr: With Diggs back and hungry to make a statement, Carr will need to be cautious of the Cowboys’ secondary. If Diggs can lock down the Saints’ wideouts, Carr might find it difficult to get into a rhythm.
2. Micah Parsons vs. Saints Offensive Line: Parsons led the Cowboys’ pass rush in Week 1 with 24 pressures. The Saints’ offensive line will need to find a way to neutralize his impact, or Carr could spend much of the game under pressure.
3. Alvin Kamara vs. Cowboys Defense: With injuries looming on both sides, Kamara will be a crucial factor for the Saints. He had 15 carries and five receptions in Week 1, and the Saints will likely lean on him to balance their attack.

Injury Updates

• Cowboys Injuries: Tight end Jake Ferguson is doubtful with a knee injury, and John Stephens (hamstring) is ruled out. Their absence could affect Prescott’s passing options, especially in the red zone.
• Saints Injuries: Linebacker D’Marco Jackson is out, while Marshon Lattimore, Bryan Bresee, and Isaiah Foskey are questionable. These injuries could limit the Saints’ ability to contain the Cowboys’ offense.

What to Expect

This NFC clash promises to be a tactical chess match. Carr and the Saints will need to figure out how to handle the Cowboys’ relentless pass rush while balancing the offensive load with Alvin Kamara. On the other side, Prescott and Dallas will look to capitalize on their own offensive strengths, particularly if the Saints’ defense is weakened by injuries.

With both teams aiming to stay undefeated, this game could have early playoff implications, especially with the Cowboys aiming to assert their dominance in the NFC.