The Dallas Cowboys will play the New Orleans Saints at noon on Sunday in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season.
A few aspects of the game are expected to determine which team wins.
Both teams are coming off dominant wins against inferior opponents in the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers in the first week of the season. The Week 2 game could gauge whether Dallas and New Orleans can compete for top spots in their divisions.
Although each of these teams won by more than 16 points in Week 1, this game is expected to be much closer due to the style of play and star power featured throughout the rosters.
Dallas and New Orleans will likely each be focused on controlling certain portions of the game to help them secure a win. The Cowboys’ keys to victory include the turnover battle and the line of scrimmage.
Win the Turnover Battle
The Cowboys and Saints were two of the best teams in the NFL during the 2023 season at forcing opponents to turn the ball over while keeping the ball safe on the offensive side of the game.
New Orleans finished the season slightly ahead of the Cowboys in overall turnover differential, with the Saints at +11, while the Cowboys followed closely behind at +10.
These turnovers have already translated into success for each of these teams during the 2024 season, as well, after both teams generated two interceptions during their wins in Week 1.
Preventing turnovers will be the most important factor for the Cowboys’ offense against a Saints defense that can create havoc both at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary.
Similarly, the Cowboys’ defense could have the opportunity to thrive against a Saints offense that often scores with big-time plays. However, New Orleans’ style of play, which includes a wide variety of short and deep passes, could result in the Dallas secondary making plays and coming up with turnovers.
Control the Line of Scrimmage on Both Sides
The second aspect of this game that could create a win for the Cowboys is along the offensive and defensive lines, which could become one of the best parts of this team as the season continues.
Despite entering the most recent offseason with questions throughout the offensive line, the Cowboys managed to hit on multiple selections in the NFL.
Dallas was able to severely limit the pressure generated by Miles Garrett, the reigning defensive player of the year, and the Browns’ defensive line, which has proven to be one of the best in the league.
Additionally, the Cowboys feature one of the most dynamic pass rushes in the league, with Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence among the most disruptive defensive linemen in the NFL.
This Dallas pass rush showed its prowess during the team’s win against the Browns in Week 1, generating a league-high 40 quarterback pressures. In comparison, the next closest team, according to Pro Football Focus, only managed 29 pressures.
While these pressures did not result in any fumbles for the Cowboys, the pass rush did sack quarterback Deshaun Watson six times and forced him into difficult throws, which contributed to his two interceptions.
Maintaining this pressure will be incredibly important for the Cowboys against an offensive line in New Orleans that has not shown to be very impressive. As such, Dallas could have multiple opportunities to sack quarterback Derek Carr or force unnecessary turnovers.