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Live Updates: Follow All the Action and Analysis for Week 2's Saints-Cowboys Game

The Saints and Cowboys game action should be plentiful, so keep up with it all here in our weekly game thread.

John Hendrix

Nov 29, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) hands off the ball to running back Alvin Kamara (41) against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images
Nov 29, 2018; Arlington, TX, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) hands off the ball to running back Alvin Kamara (41) against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images / Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images
In this story:

ARLINGTON -- We're going to find out soon enough what the Saints are made of, as the battle of two 1-0 teams will take place from Cowboys Stadium on Sunday. It's one of 10 early kickoffs in Week 2, and the biggest question facing New Orleans is whether or not they are for real after their beatdown of the Panthers to start the year. Keep updated with all of the big action throughout the game with our weekly live thread, and I'll give you my notes and observations as the game progresses.

Pregame Notes

Derek Carr will be a big reason why the Saints have success or not on Sunday
Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
  • We'll have more clarification on Taliese Fuaga when the Saints do walkthroughs, but for the moment, he's active and available.
  • Similar to last week, Jake Haener is the backup to Derek Carr while Spencer Rattler is the emergency third quarterback. It'll be interesting to see if that changes any as the season progresses.
  • Not having Marshon Lattimore (hip/hamstring) is unfortunate, but this is a long season. New Orleans has confidence in rookies Kool-Aid McKinstry and Rico Payton, but we'll have to see if Alontae Taylor moves outside in his absence or continues to be in the slot.
  • A.T. Perry didn't carry an injury designation going into the game, but he'll miss Sunday. The hand injury was something that happened in practice, so it could be more precautionary with him and Dallin Holker (ankle). The same could be said with Jaylan Ford (hamstring).
  • Alontae Taylor was on the outside opposite of Paulson Adebo during walkthroughs. Landon Young was at left tackle originally, but Fuaga later moved there. Isaiah Stalbird was with Demario Davis and Pete Werner at linebacker. We'll see if this is how the game plays out.
  • Dallas won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. New Orleans' offense is up first.

First Quarter - Saints 14, Cowboys 3

Scoring

  • Saints, 10:50 (7-80, 4:10) - Alvin Kamara 5-yard run.
  • Cowboys, 4:14 (13-45, 6:36) - Brandon Aubrey 52-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 4:05 (1-70, 0:09) - Rashid Shaheed 70-yard pass from Derek Carr.

Notes

  • Fuaga got the start at left tackle.
  • Liked the razzle-dazzle to Rashid Shaheed, and that could have went for more. It did set up New Orleans with a nice 3rd-and-2 play that Derek Carr hit to Shaheed.
  • Wide open hookup from Carr to Chris Olave for 39 yards that put the Saints in goal-to-go. That was a pretty concept from Klint Kubiak.
  • Heck of an opening drive by New Orleans. They went down the length of the field after starting at their own 20-yard-line. Alvin Kamara capped it off by getting into the end zone for the game's first score.
  • Saints opened defensively in nickel. Kool-Aid McKinstry was on the outside and Alontae Taylor went into the slot. Willie Gay Jr. came in on the following play and Taylor went outside as they shifted to base.
  • That's a really nice play down the field for Demario Davis in coverage against Rico Dowdle. That looked eerily similar to last year's Falcons game where Bijan Robinson got him.
  • Davis got away with a facemask penalty on Dowdle.
  • That's a nice play on the outside by Kool-Aid McKinstry. He did what he needed to do hold the defender up to allow Alontae Taylor to come in and help finish the play, but McKinstry also got right back into it.
  • What a dart of a throw by Derek Carr to hit Rashid Shaheed for a 70-yard bomb. Really nice job by Trevor Penning on Micah Parsons on that play too.

Highlights

Second Quarter - Saints 35, Cowboys 16

Scoring

  • Cowboys, 11:39 (14-41, 7:26) - Brandon Aubrey 38-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 9:30 (4-70, 2:09) - Alvin Kamara 57-yard pass from Derek Carr.
  • Cowboys, 7:43 (4-78, 1:47) - CeeDee Lamb 65-yard pass from Dak Prescott.
  • Saints, 2:48 (11-70, 4:55) - Alvin Kamara 12-yard run.
  • Saints, 0:39 (3-20, 0:23) - Derek Carr 1-yard run.
  • Cowboys, 0:00 (7-40, 0:39) - Brandon Aubrey 48-yard field goal.

Notes

  • Alontae Taylor wasn't fooled on that trickery to Brandin Cooks that resulted in a loss.
  • The ensuing play was a nice sack by Carl Granderson to turn the Dallas offense away.
  • Cedrick Wilson Jr. came out of the Saints injury tent. He's headed to the locker room.
  • Nice block by Taysom Hill on the edge on the Olave pass that picked up a first down.
  • Unreal start for Derek Carr and the Saints. He's 6/6 for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns and that was the easiest touchdown I think Alvin Kamara has scored in a while.
  • Not a good look on the CeeDee Lamb score. That should have been stopped, but he got free and it led to the Cowboys getting back into the game.
  • Nice run by Kamara to start the drive to help settle things down. Carr ended up throwing his first incompletion after Micah Parsons blew up the play.
  • It's probably time to make to finalize that Alvin Kamara contract for next year. He's looked terrific.
  • What a thump by Tyrann Mathieu. That ball hung up there too.
  • Outstanding play and return by Paulson Adebo to help put the Saints in a good spot late in the half. He had two holding penalties and arguably made up for it there.
  • Great catch by Chris Olave to get to the Cowboys' 1-yard-line. That's just all 12.

Highlights

Third Quarter - Saints 41, Cowboys 19

Scoring

  • Cowboys, 9:05 (10-51, 5:55) - Brandon Aubrey 40-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 1:09 (13-70, 7:56) - Alvin Kamara 7-yard run. (Blake Grupe extra point blocked)

Notes

  • Not what you want to see on 3rd Down when you can turn the Cowboys away, as Bryan Bresee had Dak Prescott for a sack and he was able to do some improv to get the ball to Ezekiel Elliott for 15.
  • That's a big catch by Jalen Tolbert working on Paulson Adebo. There's been a few big plays Dallas has been able to get.
  • Nice job by Bryan Bresee to strip Dak Prescott on 3rd-and-8, but New Orleans couldn't hop on the fumble. Bend, don't break on the drive though.
  • Taysom Hill doing Taysom Hill things is always a good thing for the offense. Carr motioned out at the last second too.
  • Seeing Rashid Shaheed getting a pitch at tailback with Alvin Kamara split out is pretty nuts, and it worked.
  • Tough seeing the Foster Moreau touchdown called back due to ineligible man downfield on Cesar Ruiz.
  • Saints were buillying the Cowboys on that drive on the ground, and that Taysom Hill pass interference called help too. Kamara ends up getting another score.
  • Taysom Hill ended up going to the locker room with an apparent injury. We'll be paying attention that one, as that would be a huge loss.
  • Tyrann Mathieu (calf cramp) was announced as questionable to return for the Saints, but he was on the field. Taysom Hill has a chest injury and is doubtful to return.

Highlights

Fourth Quarter - Saints 44, Cowboys 19

Scoring

  • Saints, 5:11 (4-5, 2:38) - Blake Grupe 26-yard field goal.

Notes

  • That's some job by Kool-Aid McKinstry on CeeDee Lamb and also Will Harris with the hit.
  • Nice 4th Down stop for New Orleans, and some Cowboys fans headed for the exits afterwards.
  • Not a big fan of passing when you're up that big, but Carr throws his first pick of the season on a pass intended for Olave. Donovan Wilson came up with it after Olave tried to get a hand on it and tipped it up. First real big mistake of the year.
  • Tyrann Mathieu got the ball right back for the Saints, so when it's going right for you, you know the rest.
  • First time we see Matt Hayball today, at the 9:43 mark of the final quarter. That's refreshing for two games in a row.
  • Cooper Rush entered the game for the Cowboys, and the Saints rolled in a lot of their defensive subs.

Highlights

Week 2 Saints-Cowboys Coverage

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John Hendrix

JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net

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