This football game on Sunday afternoon may not be as much of a snooze fest as many think after the Cowboys took care of the best defense in football in week one.
The Saints put nearly a 50-burger on the Panthers. Yes, maybe the worst team in football, but the Saints have enough playmakers to keep the game close for maybe a half if not more.
Dallas will look better on offense, as the Saints don’t nearly have the defense as the Browns do, but Mike Zimmer and those boys will need to not overlook a decently talented Saints offense.
Luke Kuechly says the @Saints are better than what y’all think they are.
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) September 9, 2024
Alvin Kamara
Against the Panthers, Kamara led the way with 15 carries for 83 yards and one touchdown. He also added five receptions for 27 yards.
It was Kamara’s 50th career game with 100 or more yards from scrimmage. As someone who drafted Kamara in fantasy it was nice to see him look healthy again for the first time in a few years.
I would enjoy a solid fantasy outing from him against Dallas, but not enough to win them the game.
Klint Kubiak is the new offensive coordinator for the Saints, and although be it against the Panthers, that offense scored on the first 9 times they touched the football. That might be an NFL record.
Players with more than 1 carry inside the opponent's 5 yard line in Week 1:
3 – Jayden Daniels
2 – Kyren Williams, Saquon Barkley, Joe Mixon, Alvin Kamara— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 10, 2024
Kamara is the first person Mike Zimmer and the defense should look to take away. Make Derek Carr beat you with his arm.
Chris Olave
On offense, Chris Olave is the sole wide receiver that you need to game plan for. He was a no show in their blowout win last week, but he can still be a problem.
Olave was only targeted twice, catching both passes for 11 yards. Carr only did throw the ball 23 times, so you can’t fault him for not putting up big numbers in the first game of the season.
He finished last year with 87 receptions for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns on 138 targets.
Trevon Diggs will probably be on him most of the day, unless the Saints try and get him matched up on Carson. I wouldn’t mind that either, he was awesome in his rookie debut against the Browns.
He only allowed Amari Cooper two catches when covering him.
Marshon Lattimore
Marshon Lattimore is the Saints’ best cover cornerback, but he has been dealing with a minor injury in his hamstring that may cause him some problems if he tries to cover CeeDee Lamb on Sunday.
Although he is probably on the backend of his career, Lattimore is a four-time Pro Bowler who will always take the best wide receiver for whatever team the Saints are playing.
Tyrann Mathieu on why Marshon Lattimore is so valuable to the defense,
“Every team has a really good receiver. We have to have a really good corner or you don’t have a chance. He provides us with that security.”
Full Convo 📺 https://t.co/tvnVov7n4c#Saints #WhoDat pic.twitter.com/ZvI6i7zmkt
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 15, 2024
If I am Mike McCarthy, I move CeeDee all over the place early and often to force Marshon to go east to west pre snap. Make him use that hamstring when he doesn’t have to.
He has also only played a handful of games over the last few seasons, but if he is on the field, he will do his best to cover Lamb and Brandin Cooks.
Chase Young
The Saints defense has other good players like Tyrann Mathieu and Cameron Jordan, and even Will Harris, but Chase Young is the guy you need to worry about on that line.
Dallas knows him all to well as he spent most of his career with Washington in the NFC East.
NFL Week 1 pressure leaders (Next Gen Stats):
#1 Micah Parsons (9)
#2 DeMarcus Lawrence (8)
T-3 Trey Hendrickson (7)
T-3 Dexter Lawrence (7)
T-3 Boye Mafe (7)
T-6 Marcus Davenport (6)
T-6 Chase Young (6)
T-6 Aidan Hutchinson (6)
T-6 Jared Verse (6)
T-6 Marshawn Kneeland (6)— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) September 10, 2024
The young offensive line of Dallas will once again be tested at times, but not as much as they were last week.
Young still has the ability to be a game wrecker and if Dallas takes this team lightly, they may give them trouble until they tighten up in the second half.
