Cowboys, Saints matchup perfectly timed for prime time
Earlier this month, when the Dallas Cowboys lost by two touchdowns at home to the Tennessee Titans, and the New Orleans Saints signed former Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant less than 48-hours later, it looked like their Week 13 Thursday night game would have a certain appeal.
Less than three weeks ago, football fans could look forward to Dez Bryant’s triumphant return to Dallas as a member of the Saints.
But, as often happens in the NFL, the scenario changed drastically in a few days. Bryant suffered an Achilles injury in his first week of practice in New Orleans, negating that angle for hyping the Dallas-New Orleans game.
And then Dallas got hot and won three straight, pulling even with Washington atop the NFC East.
Now, Saints fans, Cowboys fans, and NFL fans in general get the tasty post-Thanksgiving treat of a meaningful Thursday night football game.
Of course, the Saints (10-1) are the favorite in this one and, as the view from here goes, to reach the NFC Championship Game.
Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli put the challenge in front of the Cowboys succinctly.
“Our hands are full, but we’re looking forward to it,” Marinelli said.
Even better for Dallas, there’s not much to lose as it hosts New Orleans. A win, stopping the Saints’ 10-game winning streak, would be a boon. But a loss wouldn’t sink Dallas too far in the NFC East standings, especially with Washington and Philadelphia playing each other on Monday Night Football.
It’s hard to imagine a better time for this Cowboys’ team to take on one of the NFL’s best.
“We’re getting better each and every week,” Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott said. “That’s what you want to do, that’s what you need to do this time of year. November football, that’s as good as it gets. Playing a team like we’re playing, we’re excited about it.”
SERIES HISTORY: 29th regular-season meeting. Cowboys lead series, 16-12. The Cowboys-Saints series eerily mirrors Dallas’s struggles since it last won a Super Bowl to finish the 1995 season. The Cowboys were 14-3 against New Orleans up through their three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s. But since Dallas last won it all, the Saints have won nine and lost just two.
