Gameday! The Saints are looking to get back to .500 in Dallas tonight on the big stage. I think we’ll all feel a lot better about the team’s chances if the Saints can pull this off. If they don’t, at 1-3, doubt immediately creeps back in. That’s the reality of a much smaller margin of error when you start the season 0-2. Here’s the five things I’ll be looking for:
1. Drew Brees vs. Tony Romo – who plays better?
I’ve already said this week that this game is all about Drew Brees playing his best. If he does that, the Saints will win. I expect a shootout, I expect points, and it just boils down to which quarterback plays better. Drew hasn’t hit peak performance yet this year, so I’m hoping this game will be the one.
2. Are the Saints just snake bitten on the road?
If the game gets close the road woes could play a mental trick on the Saints. This team desperately needs a hard fought win on the road. Losing twice on the final play with a field goal can really start to affect you, after a while you struggle to finish off games. If the game comes down to the wire as so many NFL games do, I’m really curious to see how the Saints close. If they lose again on the road, the narrative weight of “can’t win on the road” gets even heavier and it’s impossible to deny. But a win would be a nice way to push that a side for a little bit.
3. Do the Saints double Dez Bryant again?
Last year the Saints doubled Dez Bryant almost the entire game. As a result the Cowboys completed only 10 passes, threw for just 104 yards and Bryant only caught one pass. That allowed the defense to hold the Cowboys to just 17. While I’m not sure this defense can duplicate anything like that again, it will be interesting to see if they employ the same exact strategy. The Cowboys will be more prepared for it, of course, so perhaps the Saints will add an unexpected wrinkle to that gameplan tactic.
4. How do the Saints run the ball?
Through three games, the run game has been outstanding. Mark Ingram obviously won’t be a part of this one, but the Saints ran for 242 yards against the Cowboys last year. In theory that all adds up to the Saints gashing the Cowboys on the ground, but with Ingram out that means it will be up to Khiry Robinson to keep the Dallas defense honest. Another added layer is the likely absence of Jonathan Goodwin, who has been a huge presence on the interior for the run game. With Tim Lelito at center that may slow down the Saints balance a bit.
5. Deep balls, anyone?
The Saints have yet to hit on a big explosive passing play, unless you count the Josh Hill touchdown last week as one (or Colston’s big catch and run in week 1). I’d like to see Stills, Cooks or Meachem stretch the defense, actually get behind a safety, and score a long touchdown. That’s what this offense used to do in their sleep each game and it’s the missing ingredient to have this whole thing come together nicely. If those three guys can’t make that happen, maybe it’s time to see more of Joe Morgan because that’s without question his specialty.
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