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With Sean Payton emphasizing the running game, including using Mark Ingram to great effect, the New Orleans Saints rolled right over the Dallas Cowboys tonight, winning the game 49-17, and scoring an NFL record 40 first downs in the process. The Saints also set a franchise record tonight, by totaling 625 yards in a regular season game; this was one yard shy of their all-time record of 626 yards against the Lions during the 2011-2012 playoffs.
Mark Ingram was the top rusher for the Saints, finishing the game with 145 yards and 1 TD on 14 carries. Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles each did well in both the passing game and the rushing game, and each tacked on a touchdown, as well. Drew Brees, who finished the game with 392 yards and 4 TD's, added a good chunk (7/8, 107yds, 1TD) towards Marques Colston's impending record, and also used Jimmy Graham (5/5, 26yds) and Kenny Stills (3/4, 75yds, 1TD) quite effectively.
This keeps the Saints one game ahead of the Carolina Panthers, who beat the San Francisco 49ers earlier today. Hopefully the Saints will be able to put on a similarly impressive performance when those same 49ers come to the Superdome next weekend.
Top Performers
| DALLAS COWBOYS | ||||
| Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
| T. Romo | 10/24 | 128 | 1 | 0 |
| Rushing | CAR | YDS | TD | LG |
| D. Murray | 16 | 89 | 1 | 35 |
| Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| J. Hanna | 3 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| J. Witten | 2 | 27 | 0 | 19 |
| D. Bryant | 1 | 44 | 0 | 44 |
| NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | ||||
| Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
| D. Brees | 34/41 | 392 | 4 | 0 |
| Rushing | CAR | YDS | TD | LG |
| M. Ingram | 14 | 145 | 1 | 34 |
| P. Thomas | 17 | 87 | 1 | 10 |
| Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| M. Colston | 7 | 107 | 1 | 22T |
| D. Sproles | 7 | 76 | 1 | 28T |
| P. Thomas | 7 | 24 | 1 | 8 |