Dallas Cowboys (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS) vs. New Orleans Saints (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS)
Week 4 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday Night Football, September 29, 2019 at 8:20PM EDT
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: NBC
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: DAL -3/NO +3
Over/Under Total: 46
The Dallas Cowboys come to the Superdome to battle the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night in an important NFC matchup of two teams that might be seeing each other later. So far, everything is going according to plan for the Cowboys, starting the season fast at 3-0. On Sunday, they beat the Dolphins 31-6, and look for a bigger win this week in a tough road-spot. The Saints, meanwhile, moved to 2-1 with a 33-27 win over Seattle on the road, 33-27, a big victory in light of the fact that they were playing without Drew Brees. But their viability as a real contender is still in question with Brees out, and this battle with Dallas should shed more light on how good they are. Who can get the job done at the Superdome this week?
It was good for the Saints to not only win without Drew Brees, but to do so in a tough road-spot in Seattle. Teddy Bridgewater, back in as a starter after a long road back from a horrific knee injury, looked good on Sunday and the whole team was able to galvanize in Brees' absence and make a real statement. But will they be able to keep pace with an unbeaten Cowboys' team? Can their still-iffy defense contain Dallas' many weapons? Will the absence of Brees show more in this game?
Teddy Bridgewater was a winning starting quarterback not that long ago. He's been looking for a chance to get back in there and if first signs are worth anything, he looked pretty good. On the road against Seattle, he went 19 for 27 with two TD throws. He made good use his weapons, which are numerous. Seeing him connect 9 times with RB Alvin Kamara was a good sign, while he also made connections with WR Michael Thomas. He won't provide the fireworks that Brees can produce, but Bridgewater is a good game-manager, doesn't make mistakes, and takes what the game gives him. Another positive development is how the Saints' offensive line kept Bridgewater out of trouble against a Seattle “D” that usually brings some heat to opposing quarterbacks.
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Numerically, the picture wasn't great on Sunday for the Saints' defense, nor was it in their loss the previous week to the Rams. But two of Seattle's touchdowns came late in the game when the result was already out-of-reach. Truth is they can be exploited aerially and that's a problem that could surface in this game, with Dak Prescott and the Dallas aerial attack having a fresh outlook on offense that is really working well. But maybe they can curtail Ezekiel Elliott, as the Saints have looked robust against the run this season, with their strong front-seven.
Dallas is looking crisp. We see a defense that has shown promise in the last few seasons now healthy enough to realize their potential. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, an innovative approach from new coordinator Kellen Moore has them showing great balance and aptitude on the ground and through the air. Dak Prescott is averaging over 300 yards per game, while Elliott is starting to warm up. Granted, they've had it easy this season, as their three opponents in the Giants, Redskins, and Dolphins are a combined 1-8 with that one win coming because of a missed 34-yard field goal by Tampa against the Giants last week. So just as this is a test for the Saints without Brees, this also serves as a litmus-test for the Cowboys.
The new offense has really opened things up for the Cowboys and Dak Prescott. They've been consistent, scoring 35, 31, and 31 points in their three games. Prescott is completing nearly 75% of his throws with 9 TD throws. Lead receiver Amari Cooper is looking good, bolstered by the performances of other ball-catchers Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb, and old tight end Jason Witten. Granted, it came against Miami, but on Sunday, they had two 100-yard runners, with Elliott gaining 125 yards, while Tony Pollard ran for 103. The run-game is starting to kick in and behind this awesome offensive line, things are really looking up on this side of the ball. Let's see how they look against a winning team on the road.
The defense is also looking pretty good for the Cowboys. Dallas got Robert Quinn in the mix back last week and he already had a sack. With Demarcus Lawrence, they could make for a nice 1-2 pass-rushing punch. Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch make for a nice presence in the middle. And their secondary has been decent. It would be more of a concern against the Saints in this spot if Brees were in there. Not that Bridgewater can't air it out, but it's not really his forte. This is a challenge for this Dallas defense and I expect them to play well.
I see New Orleans still having some upside, even without their field general. But this is a battle of contenders, a pair of teams who look to have a say in who will represent this conference in the Super Bowl. And when one team is missing someone as integral as Brees is to the Saints, it's hard to get behind them with your money. Sure, an accommodation has already been made in the odds to deal with that, with the Saints getting points when they'd be laying if Brees were healthy. But asking the Cowboys to win by 4 isn't asking too much. I'll take the Cowboys.
Loot's Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I'm betting on the Dallas Cowboys minus 3 points. Bet the Dallas vs. New Orleans game for FREE by taking advantage of a
