New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys: Complete Week 4 Preview for Dallas
The Dallas Cowboys are at an early-season crossroads when they face the New Orleans Saints Sunday night. If the Cowboys can win this game they will improve to 3-1 and be in great position to make a huge midseason push.
Through three games, New Orleans is similar to the team that most people thought the Cowboys would be before the 2014 season began. The Saints have a fantastic offense coupled with an awful defense, which has resulted in a surprising 1-2 record.
When these two teams met last year, the Saints thoroughly dominated the Cowboys in every facet of the game, winning 49-17.
The Cowboys once again might be without linebacker Rolando McClain, which means Anthony Hitchens will be called upon to start. The rookie likely will be a player whom the Saints' passing game targets with its tight ends and running backs.
This game looks to have all the making of an old-fashioned shootout as two highly potent offenses will battle at AT&T Stadium Sunday night.
Read on for some news and notes, injury information and players to watch on Sunday.
Cowboys Week 3 Recap
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In spite of a 21-point second-quarter deficit, the Dallas Cowboys rallied to defeat the St. Louis Rams on the road, 34-31.
The defense had a rough day but managed to close out the game thanks to interceptions from Bruce Carter and Morris Claiborne, both of whom struggled throughout the game.
On offense, DeMarco Murray had another 100-yard rushing day, though he did lose a fumble. There is a pattern developing in which Murray fumbles early in games but then rebounds and is very productive for the rest of the contest.
Tony Romo, who went 18-of-23 for 217 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, made a number of fantastic plays to keep the Cowboys in the game.
The most impressive player on Dallas' offense was tackle Tyron Smith. He mauled last year's NFL sack leader, Robert Quinn, both in the running game and pass protection. It takes a special player to be able to totally shut down a player of Quinn's caliber.
The defense sorely missed linebacker Rolando McClain, but the unit somehow managed to do just enough to win the game.
The defensive line failed to get much pressure on the opposing quarterback once again, though it did get step up in a couple of critical situations. Defensive end Tyrone Crawford and cornerback Orlando Scandrick were the best players for the defense as they were solid against the Rams.
The Cowboys will now face a much stiffer test against the New Orleans Saints and their vaunted offense.
News and Notes
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Claiborne Goes AWOL
Even with his game-ending interception, Morris Claiborne had a horrible game against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams threw at Claiborne seven times and completed five passes for 108 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Claiborne had a great deal of trouble with his footwork and technique, specifically when asked to execute press coverage.
The Cowboys coaching staff decided enough was enough and demoted Claiborne this week—the news of which the third-year pro did not take very well. As ESPNDallas.com' Jean-Jacques Taylor reported: "Cornerback Morris Claiborne skipped the Dallas Cowboys' walk-through practice and angrily left the club's Valley Ranch training facility Tuesday after being informed that Orlando Scandrick was replacing him in the starting lineup, multiple sources said."
This is a troubling development for a player who appears to struggle with his confidence. It is very disappointing that Claiborne doesn't have the mental toughness to take the benching in stride and use it to fuel his improvement as a player.
Before this incident, the most troubling conclusion reached about Claiborne was that he is a worse player today than he was in college. He has regressed significantly since coming into the NFL in 2012.
Hopefully, this incident ultimately motivates Claiborne for the rest of the season, because if he doesn't step up and get better, he is in trouble of dropping behind Sterling Moore on the cornerback depth chart.
Anthony Spencer to Return
Anthony Spencer started practicing a little bit last week, and it appears as though he will make his return against the Saints.
As ESPNDallas.com's Todd Archer reported: "After recording just three sacks in the first three games, the Dallas Cowboys will welcome back defensive end Anthony Spencer to the lineup for the first time in more than a year Sunday when they take on the New Orleans Saints."
Spencer is a welcome addition to a defense that has recorded only three sacks in the first three games of the season. Even though Spencer won't play a ton of snaps, he could make an impact on the limited number of snaps he does play.
Spencer won't likely make any significant contributions for a few weeks, because he has to get back into playing shape and used to the speed of an NFL game. However, Spencer can't be much worse than some of the play the Cowboys have gotten from their reserve defensive ends in the first three weeks.
Close, But No Cigar
Defensive end Tyrone Crawford has had a really impressive start to the 2014 season, especially since he is coming off a torn Achilles tendon injury suffered last year in training camp.
Crawford is tied for eighth in quarterback hurries and tied for sixth in hits on the quarterback out of all 4-3 defensive ends, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, he has yet to record a sack in the first three games.
Crawford is not happy with his lack of sacks, per The Dallas Morning News' Jon Machota:
"I feel like I’ve been close...But close is nothing right now. I’ve got to get to the quarterback and get it done...It’s hard to even look in the mirror in the morning...I watched the TV copy [of Sunday’s game] as soon as I got home and it was definitely frustrating, looking at four or five of my rushes, knowing that if I got off the bull rush quicker I could’ve had a sack or another quarterback hit. It’s frustrating.
"
The fact remains that Crawford is one of the few players on the Cowboys defense who can say that he has played well in every game this season.
If Crawford keeps relentlessly rushing the passer, he will record his fair share of sacks soon enough.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Davon Coleman (knee) | DT | Out |
| Anthony Spencer (knee) | DE | Probable |
| Justin Durant (groin) | LB | Questionable |
| Dez Bryant (shoulder) | WR | Questionable |
| Tony Romo (back) | QB | Probable |
| Gavin Escobar (knee) | TE | Probable |
| Davon Coleman (knee) | DT | Doubtful |
| Henry Melton (hamstring) | DT | Doubtful |
| Terrell McClain (concussion) | DT | Questionable |
| Rolando McClain (groin) | LB | Doubtful |
All injury information comes from the Cowboys official team website
The Cowboys look like they will be especially thin in the middle of the defense with injuries to defensive tackles Henry Melton, Davon Coleman and Terrell McClain along with "Mike" linebacker Rolando McClain. If all four of these players ends up being out against the Saints, the Cowboys defense will be extremely susceptible to inside runs.
Outside of those four injuries, the Cowboys appear to be a good shape heading into the Saints game. It will be very interesting to see how effective Anthony Spencer is in his first game back after microfracture knee surgery.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Orlando Scandrick vs. Brandin Cooks
Outside of tight end Jimmy Graham, the scariest player on the Saints offense is rookie receiver Brandin Cooks.
Orlando Scandrick will likely have the tough task of covering Cooks from the slot.
Cooks has a unique ability to make big plays on screens, runs, and he's adept at running a variety of routes. Cooks is at his best when he is in open space, it will be up to Scandrick to make sure the extremely quick and agile Cooks doesn't have enough space to turn a short pass into a big gain.
The good news for the Cowboys is that Scandrick is also very quick and is one of the few players who can match up athletically with the first-year player.
Scandrick has done a great job of shutting down short speedsters like DeSean Jackson.
The Saints heavily rely on the big play, and it will be up to Scandrick to take away their biggest big-play threat.
Terrance Williams vs. Saints Defensive Backs
Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will not allow Dez Bryant to be the catalyst for the Cowboys offense. Ryan has shown no fear in the past in doubling the opposing teams' best player in an effort to take him totally out of the game.
This will create a great deal of opportunities for Dallas' other starting wideout, Terrance Williams. Thus far this season, Williams has not had a game in which he has made a significant impact. This has to change against the Saints. The Cowboys need Williams to win his one-on-one battles and get open on a regular basis.
Williams is a great route-runner who can take the top off a defense. However, he sometimes struggles catching the ball consistently, often using his body rather than his hands to secure the catch.
If the Cowboys offense wants to have a chance to keep up with the Saints offense, Williams must have a big game.
Cowboys' X-Factor of the Week: J.J. Wilcox
J.J. Wilcox has not had a very promising start to the 2014 season. He has struggled in coverage and has not done a good job with his anticipation. Wilcox is supposed to be the player who mans the single-high safety position for the Cowboys.
However, he often looks lost at times back there, unsure of where he and opposing receivers are on the field and of where the ball is going.
This week, it will be very important that Wilcox fixes the problems that he has had in coverage. Wilcox will be responsible for neutralizing the Saints' big-play threats when they go down the field.
Wilcox will also have to deal with Jimmy Graham on deep seam routes. Wilcox will have to be physical and maintain great leverage when covering the All-Pro tight end.
Wilcox will be the lynchpin to the entire defense when the Saints come to town Sunday night.
Prediction
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The Saints are a very tough matchup for the Cowboys. They have a high-octane offense, with a defense that plays well with a lead.
This game will come down to how well the Cowboys defense plays. The Cowboys offense should play well and put up a score somewhere in the high 20s or low 30s; however, it is not clear how well the Cowboys defense will perform.
The key for the defense will be pressure. The Cowboys have to get pressure with their front four and move Drew Brees off his spot. If the Cowboys can do that then they will have a fighting chance on that side of the ball. Brees is prone to turnovers when he gets pressure in his face.
Tyrone Crawford, George Selvie, Jeremy Mincey and Anthony Spencer will be primarily tasked with getting to Brees throughout the game. The Saints offensive line is a little bit shaky, and it will be paramount that the Cowboys take advantage of that.
If the Cowboys can harass Brees, they will be able to keep the game close. If the Cowboys are within a score as their offense takes the field late in the game, then Tony Romo and company will lead them to victory.
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Saints 28
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