The last time the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints met up, the Saints set a record for most first downs in a game. Not so this go-around -- Dallas manhandled New Orleans until deep in the fourth quarter, winning at home, 38-17.
Saints vs. Cowboys 2014 final score: 3 things we learned from Dallas’ 38-17 win
Tony Romo played some of his best football of the season, and despite a late comeback attempt by Drew Brees and the Saints, the Cowboys won at home, 38-17.
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Tony Romo had his best first half of the season, while Drew Brees was under constant pressure and Rob Ryan's beleaguered defense couldn't stop DeMarco Murray or Terrance Williams. That changed in the fourth quarter when the Saints forced Romo into poor throws, but New Orleans wasn't able to capitalize and never pulled closer than 14 points.
1.) The Cowboys have an offense!
Tony Romo at the half: 17-of-22 for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
Drew Brees at the half: 10-of-13 for 84 yards and an interception.
This game was by far one of the biggest surprises of week 4. The Cowboys absolutely destroyed a normally solid Saints defense. Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan had no answer for a rejuvenated Cowboys offense that was firing on every cylinder.
Romo was able to pass out of play action, Murray had his fourth straight game with 100-plus yards (with 149) and at least one touchdown (the last person to do that? Emmitt Smith in 1995), and wide receiver Terrance Williams had over 100 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. And Romo? He finished 22-of-29 with 262 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions -- a passer rating of 137.4.
The Saints, on the other hand, were terrible in the first three quarters.
After serious deliberation, I think this is the Saints' worst game since losing 42-10 to the Colts in the 2007 opener.
— Tom Mantzouranis (@themantz) September 29, 2014 Until a late charge in the fourth quarter, the Saints offense just could not get anything going. Despite not getting sacked once, Brees was under constant pressure and found most of his receivers heavily blanketed. Jimmy Graham had only the fourth fumble of his entire career, the Saints attempted the weirdest fake punt in recent Sunday Night Football history, and the offensive game plan seemed, at best, confused.
2.) The Cowboys defense is still a work in progress
Despite having a 31-3 lead well into the third quarter, the Cowboys couldn't feel completely safe. After losing linebacker Bruce Carter to an injury on a big running play by running back Khiry Robinson, the Dallas defense had a much harder time defending Brees' passing, enabling him to move laterally and make big passes in space. Brees went to tight ends Graham and Josh Hill in the fourth quarter, both for touchdowns to make the score 31-17. Receiver Dez Bryant scored late in the fourth quarter to finally put the game out of reach.
3.) Seriously, what happened to the Saints defense?
After finishing last in defense in 2012, the Saints hired Rob Ryan His 2013 defense ranked fourth in total points, allowing just 19 points per game. But on Sunday, the Saints were absolutely powerless against Romo and the Cowboys’ running game. Whether by short passes or on throws to the middle of the field, the Cowboys were able to pick up first down after first down. The Cowboys’ front seven asserted itself at the line of scrimmage and the Saints had no answer to Murray.
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