The Cowboys are coming off an impressive 33-17 win over the Browns in Week 1 in a game that wasn't as close as the final score. The Saints dominated the Panthers 47-10 to score the most points of any team in the NFL.
In fact, the last two Saints regular season games have been high scoring as they scored 48 points in Week 18 of the 2023 regular season.
But let's see how they fare against Mike Zimmer's new defense that features an revamped linebacker corps, the return of Trevon Diggs and a hungry Micah Parsons who isn't satisfied with just getting one sack last week.
Let's see what the staff writers think about Sunday's game with the Saints:
Patrik Walker: I can't shake just how badly the Cowboys need to rinse the taste of January from the mouths of both the teams and the fanbase on Sunday. It's the first time they've stepped onto the field at AT&T Stadium since being embarrassed by the Packers, dominant in every home game prior to that one. It's time to get back to business in that regard, and they're gonna be juiced to pressure Derek Carr in a way the Panthers only wished they could. Taliese Fuaga is dealing with a back injury (and versus Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, no less) and the Cowboys' linebackers are primed to keep Alvin Kamara bottled up on what will likely be plenty of outside runs and bubble screens. Meanwhile, even with Jake Ferguson, there is plenty of firepower for Dak Prescott to get going against a capable defense. This one is close until it isn't at all. 44-20, Cowboys
Nick Eatman: If I've said it once, I've said it 100 times … Week 2 is always an important game in my book and this is no different. Winners in Week 1 must figure out how to stack wins together and you have to learn how to handle success. So both teams need this game, because it also figures to be the stiffest test either team has faced this year. I think Saints will have a rowdy fan base to support them and that will create a fun environment, even for the Noon kickoff. I can see the Saints getting off to a fast start but once things settle down, I see the Cowboys pulling away. Malik Hooker will get an interception, Luke Schoonmaker will score a touchdown and Deuce Vaughn will have more yards from scrimmage than any game of his career. Those are my fun predictions, but give me the Cowboys 34-23.
Kyle Youmans: This should be a fun one! Two teams with an impressive showing in Week 1 but trying to prove they're the real deal in Week 2. It just sounds like a recipe for disaster overall. Especially when the Saints have been playing as well as they did down the stretch in 2023, and against the Panthers last week, this is no easy matchup for Dallas. Again, the Cowboys will have to take care of the football and limit the run. Two things they did really well against Cleveland and will have to do well again this week. I believe the home field advantage plays a factor and Dallas gets off to the start they need, coasting to a 34-24 victory in Arlington.
Mickey Spagnola: Judging from what we witnessed not only in the season opening 33-17 beating of the Browns, but also during those two scrimmages with the Rams, this Cowboys run defense seems to be improving over last season. Couldn't be worse than in their only five losses during that 12-5 season, but also in the playoff loss to Green Bay. But think about it. If not for Cleveland's Deshaun Watson scrambling for 39 yards in the season opener they would have held the Browns to just 54 yards rushing, but 23 in the first half. My gut tells me the Cowboys will hold the Saints. to a reasonable total of rushing yards after they piled up 180 in the opener against the Panthers. Do that, and the Cowboys move to 2-0 with a 28-17 victory.
