Early take on how we match up next week vs. Dallas? (2 Viewers)

[DSnfla]

You have to dig deeper into the Stats. They where ranked:

23rd in Rush Defense
29th in Scoring Defense
27th in Red Zone Defense
25th in Points per game
32nd in Sacks(Traded away Burns there best pass rusher)
30th in INT

So yeah they where 4th in yards allowed per game, but that stat is meaningless. In fact it's likely attributed to the fact that teams had short fields and did not need a ton of yardage to score on them.

When you look at there Def DOVA from last year they ranked 25. So in summary no the Panthers did not have a good defense last year and after trading away there best defensive player it will likely be worse this year.

You could say that because they had to defend short fields that's why they were 29th in scoring D and PPG , it also skews RZ D

 

[DSnfla]

Carolina's D was 28th in PPG and last in Takeaways in 2023. Their #4 ranking is based on short fields due to Bryce. They got worse in the offseason trading Burns. They are a 2-15 team that might go 1-16 or worse.

And short fields lead to giving up more PPG

 

[SweetT]

Last yr the Browns OL was one of the highest ranked OL in the league

Both of their starting Tackles from last year are still injured and are not playing yet

 

[SystemShock]

Dallas will have a week of game film to watch on us now, and their D-line is a whole different animal.

The Saints will have more than a week's worth of game film to watch as well.
What's so scary about Dallas' d-line?

 

[LAhotsauce]

Game is going to a much tougher outing without a doubt.

Cleveland has a top 10 defense and Dallas hung 33 points on them. During the regular season Dak is a top 10 QB. We got pressure on Bryce when we blitzed but not sure what will work against Dallas, we need the front 4 to get pressure.

On the offensive side of the ball its going to come down to protection. This will be the first big test of the OL against a real elite pass rusher. Things will get ugly real fast if Penning get exposed.

I am hopeful that the Saints can at least compete in this game. A win is possible but I will be happy with any outcome as long as we don't fold when playing against a playoff caliber team.

That 33 points is a little misleading. Dallas only had 2 legit scoring drives on Cleveland. They had a punt return TD then a bunch of very short field FGs as shown:

5 plays, 17 yards--FG
4 plays, 1 yard--FG
6 plays, 14 yards--FG
6 plays, 10 yards--FG

That's where having to rely on ol man Ezekiel Elliot and Brandin 'concussed' Cooks shows up.

 

[Tacoes]

Yea I want this one bad. Can't imagine how you have it, It's bad enough out here in Long Beach, CA, cowboys and niners everywhere. We have things to clean up but I'm quietly confident after last night's performance. The players got a great win, and I don't believe Dak is that guy.

Always great to see another Saints fan in Socal

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

They only had 265 yards of total offense. The Browns gave up a punt return TD and two picks and turned the ball over on downs twice in their own territory trying to come back.

I respect the Dallas offense but they didn't exactly light the Browns D up. The potential is there for us to give them a real struggle.

People need to stop swinging from Dallas grapefruits. If you stop their running game and deal with Micah, we'll win this game.

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

My official predictions:

Saints: 15
Dallas: 12

or

Saints: 14
Dallas: 44


I think the Saints can win a violent, physical game or Dallas sadly just crushes us. I just think it is too early for the Saints offense to have gelled enough to be able to get into track meets.

That said, if I am wrong and the Saints crush Dallas, being wrong will have never felt so right.

I guarantee that barring injury we will NOT get crushed by Dallas.

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

Some of his takes are fair. But to say Dallas by 14 would be an annihilation in the NFL. So he's clearly a kooky fan filled with false hopium. Further evidenced by him saying that Dak is more elusive than BY. Dak is a statue compared to BY. Claiming that we used AT to blitz because we couldn't get pressure w/ 4 is folly. (We blitzed AT because we knew it would work, 3 times) Chase Young was asked about Dak because Wash played them 2x per year while he was there. CY said and i paraphrase with a giggling tone he said "Dak? pffp... i aint worried about no Dak" BY will stifle Daks scrambling ability forcing him into throwaways and forcing the ball. (I also dont think that DC4 is afraid of Dallas) What i am concerned about, is that Dallas have playmakers with speed that we'll have to take into account. With all of that said, i think Dallas is more proven and they are at home, i can see them winning by 3-4 points. 31-27. (I expect 3 TD and 2 FGs from the Saints and 4 TD's and 1 FG from Dallas)

Who's BY? Did you mean CY?

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

After reading this thread, I'm picking the Pokes in SurvivorBowl this week.








Uhh, I just can't ... I would feel like a huge bucket of filth to click that button.

I already picked them, but I would never pick them against the Saints. What's wrong with you for even thinking that thought?

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

Just go deep on the opening possession. Let them know they better respect it and we are not scared.

 

[Boy_of_wonder75]

Dak is certainly a better qb than Bryce Young and he'll hit some of the throws Young couldn't. The key is containing Prescott and not letting him get outside the pocket. I think the Cowboys go up early, maybe 14-10 or 10-3 in the second quarter, but the Saints come back and take it, 27-24.

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

Alot of it is over rated but like i say, they win off a bunch of over achievers.

I don't believe in over achieving. And they've won 12 games for like 3 years straight. If they are over achieving for 3 years straight, then they aren't over achieving. It's not something you can consistently do, it happens once or twice and that's it, otherwise it would just be achieving.

 

[SweetT]

Dak is certainly a better qb than Bryce Young and he'll hit some of the throws Young couldn't. The key is containing Prescott and not letting him get outside the pocket. I think the Cowboys go up early, maybe 14-10 or 10-3 in the second quarter, but the Saints come back and take it, 27-24.

Before last week, Dak was pondering the thought of playing for another team. He’s not hitting a switch, to be “All Cowboys” this soon. We will rattle him.

 

[Sir2U]

I do not know if it has been said already but the 49ers offense gives the Cowboys defense fits everytime they play. We have Kubiak from that same offense. We just need Taysom to take on the Deebo role and Kamara just be Kamara and we will be alright.