Dallas Cowboys: Scott Linehan’s additions to playbook may defeat Saints
The Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of a three-game winning streak. What else does offensive coordinator Scott Linehan have up his sleeves?
Whenever the Dallas Cowboys face the New Orleans Saints, it’s always fun to watch because of the multiple story lines to choose from. Many members of Cowboy Nation love playing the – What If – game and like to imagine the history of the Cowboys if Saints head coach Sean Payton had stayed in Dallas and became the Cowboys head coach.
With the Saints entering AT&T Stadium a.k.a. The House That Tony Romo Built with a 10-game win streak, it will conjure memories of the 2009 matchup between these teams. That year, the Cowboys – led by former quarterback Tony Romo – broke the Saints 13-game win streak, but the Saints finished the season with a victory against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Let’s try to convince the Saints that history indicates it will be a good thing for them to lose against the Cowboys.
The last Cowboys vs Saints matchup that I attended was in 2013 and the Saints defeated the Cowboys 49-17. The Saints had a franchise record of 625 total yards, but even worse was the Saints setting the NFL’s record for most first downs in a game with 40. It was brutal. The Saints had 242 rushing yards. I was devastated and depressed until I wandered into a nightclub near Bourbon Street and had the time of my life!
Back then, the Cowboys had the NFL’s worst defense under the direction of defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. This season, the Cowboys are ranked 7th in yards allowed per game with 331.1.
Against their last three opponents: Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins (with backup QB Colt McCoy) – the Cowboys have allowed an average of 368.7 yards per game.
Fortunately, the Cowboys have won those three games by allowing an average 20.7 points per game due to the outstanding play of linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and future hall of fame safety Jeff Heath.
The Saints are ranked 15th in yards allowed per game with 358.9. Against their last three opponents: Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles – the Saints allowed an average of 282 yards and a mere 12.7 points per game.
That’s impressive for a team with a public reputation of not being concerned with playing defense. To me, the face of the Saints defense is linebacker Sam Mills – RIP – and he stopped playing in 1998. Sam Mills belongs in the NFL Hall of Fame. #Respect
The Saints believe – who needs defense when you can score an insane amount of points at any given moment? They are averaging 37 points per game. The Cowboys have scored more than 30 points in two games this season. Not exactly the best stat that points to a Cowboys’ win.
Like I mentioned last week, the Cowboys have been learning from other teams. Did anyone notice the Cowboys executed an inside TE option shuffle pass which was stolen from the Tennessee Titans. While the play didn’t result in a Cowboys’ touchdown, it’s inspiring to see new things added to the Cowboys offense.
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Cowboy Nation has to hope that offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has found enough plays to copy from other teams that can add up to a Cowboys victory because many of us won’t have the luxury of drowning any post game sorrows on Bourbon Street.
#GoCowboys