Dallas Cowboys @ New Orleans Saints: Game Preview

by Saintsational on Dec 16, 2009 6:00 AM CST Comment 35 comments

DALLAS COWBOYS (8-5) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-0)

SERIES

	COWBOYS	SAINTS
SERIES LEADER	14-8
STREAKS		Past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	Phillips: 1-1	Payton: 1-0
LAST WEEK	L 20-17 vs. Chargers	W 26-23 at Falcons
LAST GAME	12/10/06: Saints 42 at Cowboys 17. New Orleans QB Drew Brees passes for 384 yards & 5 TDs as Saints tally 536 yards of offense in road win vs. Cowboys.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/28/03: Saints 13, Cowboys 7. New Orleans WR Donte' Stallworth catches 76-yard TD pass & K John Carney adds 2 FGs as New Orleans defeats Dallas in 2003 season finale.
BROADCAST	NFLN (7:20 PM CT): Bob Papa, Matt Millen. Westwood One Radio: Howard David, Randy Cross, Kevin Kiley (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 126 (Dal.), 125 (NO). XM: 124 (WW1), 103 (Dal.), 102 (NO).

STATS

PASSING	Romo: 276-444-3,574 (3C)-22-7-97.4	Brees: 302-432-3,832 (1C)-32 (1L)-10-112.3 (1L)
RUSHING	Barber: 166-716-4.3-4	P. Thomas: 135-713-5.3-5
RECEIVING	Witten (TE): 77 (3C)-793-10.3-1	Colston: 56-908-16.2-9
OFFENSE	391.1 (3L)	426.1 (1L)
TAKE/GIVE	-1	+16 (2L)
DEFENSE	329.4	347.6
SACKS	Ware: 9	Smith: 10
INTs	Jenkins: 4	Sharper: 8 (T1C)
PUNTING	McBriar: 44.9	Morstead (R): 42.7
KICKING	Folk: 84 (33/33 PAT: 17/26 FG)	Carney: 89 (50/52 PAT; 13/17 FG)

NOTES

COWBOYS: QB TONY ROMO aims for 4th in row with 100+ rating. Has 7 TDs, 0 INTs & 114.3 rating in past 3. Team is 24-5 (.828) when he starts & has 100+ rating...RB MARION BARBER has 35 rush TDs since 2006, 2nd most in NFC. RB-KR FELIX JONES averages 42.5 yards per TD in career...WR MILES AUSTIN ties for NFL lead with 7 rec. TDs of 20+ yards. Has 999 yards, 17.2 avg. & 10 rec. TDs & can become 1st Cowboy since 1979 (TONY HILL) with 1,000+ yards, 17+ avg. & 10+ rec. TDs. TE JASON WITTEN has 254 receptions & 2,890 yards since 2007, both 2nd most among NFL TEs. WR ROY WILLIAMS had 4 catches for 111 yards (27.8 avg.) in only meeting (12/24/05 with Det.)...LB DE MARCUS WARE has 43 sacks since 2007, most in NFL. Has 9 sacks in past 9. Had sack in last meeting. CB TERENCE NEWMAN had INT last week...

SAINTS: Are 13-0 for 1st time in team history. Lead NFL with 35.8 scoring avg. Head coach SEAN PAYTON was asst. with Dal. from 2003-05...QB DREW BREEScompleted 26 of 38 (68.4 pct.) for 384 yards with 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 140.8 rating in last meeting. Is 6-0 at home with 131 rating, completing 136 of 187 (72.7 pct.) for 1,926 yards (321 per game) with 18 TDs vs. 3 INTs. Needs 168 yards for 4th consecutive 4,000-yard season...RB REGGIE BUSH had 6 catches for 125 yards (20.8 avg.) & TD in last meeting. Had 2 rec. TDs last week. RB PIERRE THOMAS has 4 TDs (2 rush, 2 rec.) in past 3 at home...WR MARQUES COLSTON has 11 rec. TDs in past 10 Dec. games. WR ROBERT MEACHEM has TD in 5 of past 6 (7 TDs). In last meeting, WR DEVERY HENDERSON had catches of 50 & 42 (TD) yards...DE WILL SMITH has 3 sacks & FF in 2 meetings. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Dal. with sack. Has 7.5 sacks in past 7. S DARREN SHARPER has 57 INTs, 1,309 yards & 9 INT-TDs since 2000, most in NFL.

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Comments

FIRST

of all this is going to be a butt whoooppin’!!!!! We are going to beat the cowgirls so bad they won’t know what hit them>. It’s going to look like they have the cheerleaders out there playing. In fact we are going to beat them so bad that we are going to dress the sainsaitionals at half time because we are going to be up so many points come on y’all can I get a WHO DAT???

by Saintsfan75 on Dec 16, 2009 6:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

It should be a good game,

but barely beating the Redskins and Falcons the last two weeks, means the Saints better have their “A” game ready. I hope the Cowboys have theirs, but history has shown us this is not usually the case in these kinds of games. I say the Cowboys keep it close and lose with a missed FG by Nick Folk.

"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell

by GunsUp on Dec 16, 2009 8:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Saints usually save their “A+” performances for home games against strong teams. Besides…they rarely have three off games in a row. (The new Saints, that is…the old Saints had several off decades in a row.)

Super Bowl 44: "If you play in this league and it's not your goal, there's something wrong with you." -- Marques Colston

by MtnExile on Dec 16, 2009 10:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Word

I hate the idea of “playing up or down to the competition”, but these Saints have had dominant games against all of their big opponents so far. They have to realize that they need this last big one to seal the deal on the HFA race. Plus, at least half of our players have to hate the Cowboys as much as the average Saints fan, if only because that’s about the average for all American football fans, I imagine.

"Think about that statement and all its implications for a second. The New England Patriots did not play up to the level of the New Orleans Saints." -Pat Yasinskas

by FuSoYa on Dec 16, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the biggest difference between the Saints and the Cowboys this year

has been consistency and the ability to man up when the chips are all in. That goes directly to your head coach, which you should be thanking your lucky stars Jerry Jones (Dumb ass) let go. I’ve been a Cowboy fan as long as I can remember, but I can’t remember a coaching staff I dislike more (maybe Switzer). All I can say is if Dallas doesn’t play up for this game, they will have to seriously reconsider their football philosophy. It would be different if they were no talent scabs, but they aren’t and that is the salt in the wound.

"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell

by GunsUp on Dec 16, 2009 10:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wade Phillips is terrible

Jason Garrett isn’t looking like a genius either, although your offense is very highly ranked, so maybe I’m wrong about that. He does have what I consider the best RB committee in football, and seems to have no idea how to use it. But Phillips is the most dispassionate and unimaginative coach in football. He’s taken a pretty well-put together team, and kept them hovering around .500 for three years. Even now, he and his team are talking like they have some kind of swagger, having handed the division crown off to the Eagles. The day Dallas gets a new head coach is the day I’ll resume worrying about how the Saints match up with the Cowboys. That said, the Cowboys are a talented team, and this will be the last regular season game I’m at all concerned over.

"Think about that statement and all its implications for a second. The New England Patriots did not play up to the level of the New Orleans Saints." -Pat Yasinskas

by FuSoYa on Dec 16, 2009 10:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

See, even non Cowboy fans get it.

I just want the Cowboys to show some heart and get after you, a win would be gravy, but I can eat a dry chicken fried steak.

"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell

by GunsUp on Dec 16, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You should be pulling for the Saints

Actually, everyone should be, since it’s the mature, responsible, American thing to do. However, we can save that for another day.

No, the reason you ought to hope the Saints win—and win in a blowout—is that a total collapse by the Cowboys, starting against the Giants, peaking in the Superdome, and ending in an 8-8 season, will free you from Phillips.

Then again, since your real problem is Jerry Jones, that wouldn’t do you a whole lot of good. My advice is to drink heavily.

Super Bowl 44: "If you play in this league and it's not your goal, there's something wrong with you." -- Marques Colston

by MtnExile on Dec 16, 2009 11:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And they seem to be glowing in the spotlight of nationwide

smoke ’em

WHODAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19-0

by nofear on Dec 16, 2009 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

At least one WHODAT!!!

WHODAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19-0

by nofear on Dec 16, 2009 11:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We've got some real winners for announcers

Looks like WWL again for sound.

by KilnBill on Dec 16, 2009 8:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

roy williams is running his head about the Saints

he has run his mouth about the Saints talking the crownning crap so I hope the defence has something special for his stupid pass dropping ass.

by bigbaddon on Dec 16, 2009 9:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I say, a corner and a safety each for Miles Austin and Jason Witten, and put Shanle on Roy all day. He may be open a lot, but that really only means he’ll have a good game catching 50% of the targets thrown his way. He’s his own best defender.

"Think about that statement and all its implications for a second. The New England Patriots did not play up to the level of the New Orleans Saints." -Pat Yasinskas

by FuSoYa on Dec 16, 2009 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Headin down fri

Each day that passes gets me more jacked for this one. Honestly, the cowboys have no ability to match the energy of the saints and of the who Dat nation.(coors light for me). Randy Galloway (dal radio guy) suggested the girls forfiet and just party it up n NO. Seems like a logical thing to do.they don’t know what they are walkin into.

Every saints fan in attendance has a job to do. This job should result in romo having a tebow moment and visions of a PGA career. If we create hell n da dome there’s no way we lose. Dome Field Advantage! DO YOUR JOB!!!! Who Dat!!!

by saints fan in cowboyland! on Dec 16, 2009 10:17 AM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

And, it's still like the shock of cold water being thrown on the opponent still

I guess it’ll take another whole season for it to get through.

WHODAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19-0

by nofear on Dec 16, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I wish I could be there.

I’d love to drunkenly scream directly at the Cowboys for three hours, but I’ll have to make do in a bar with that dream. Someone should tell the Saints players, if they don’t already know, that, more important than the playoff implications of this game, is the notion that of all the teams New Orleans plays this year, the Cowboys in the Dome CANNOT be the team to beat this glorious franchise. That goes for those in attendance too. There should not be a single Dallas offensive snap where I can hear what Bob Popa is talking about.

"Think about that statement and all its implications for a second. The New England Patriots did not play up to the level of the New Orleans Saints." -Pat Yasinskas

by FuSoYa on Dec 16, 2009 10:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Snap and huddle

I should be like waves of sound washing the shore.
Huddle – wave
Snap – wave

WHODAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19-0

by nofear on Dec 16, 2009 11:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Save a horse....ride the Cowboys.

by jack_casse on Dec 16, 2009 10:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking about that this morning

and trying to come up with a funny t-shirt idea.

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Saintsational on Dec 16, 2009 10:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a Cowboys fan and I think that is funny.

Good luck Saturday, may the best coach win. Oh hell what am I saying? May the best coach get laryngitis.

"Help, it's hot and dark in here and someone is laughing." Taco Bell

by GunsUp on Dec 16, 2009 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

by nanvinnie on Dec 16, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

WHODAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19-0

by nofear on Dec 16, 2009 11:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure fire method to motivate Grant...

Rub Romo down with hamburger drippings before the game.

by cptbags on Dec 16, 2009 10:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

they can hang a whopper off one of those “floating” cameras behind the qb in the nationally televised games. Nahh, I’m just kidding. Nothing will fix Grant’s lack of play. Hargrove/McCray for starting DE!

"Think about that statement and all its implications for a second. The New England Patriots did not play up to the level of the New Orleans Saints." -Pat Yasinskas

by FuSoYa on Dec 16, 2009 11:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed.

grant needs to be benched

by nanvinnie on Dec 16, 2009 11:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is there a petition to sign?

I also agree. Bench da bum!

by WhoDat_OH on Dec 16, 2009 1:40 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Good bar to watch the game in the Quarter?

Couple of things: I’m flying in to New Orleans for the holidays on Friday. I was in hopes of getting tickets to the game but that is looking very unlikely. Anyone know a good bar to watch it thats within wallking distance of the Quarter? (keeping in mind they will have to get the NFL Network)

Any good suggestions are appreciated.

Also, as an FYI, if anyone has any intention of possibly posting anything on the Cowboys
website, there is a 24 hour wait period from the time you “agree to their terms” and are actually able to post anything.

I am also a lifelong Saints fan living in Texas. So, I can’t tell you how much I want us to come out similar to the way we played the Giants or Patriots.

by Drew-Dat on Dec 16, 2009 1:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs