I'm a Cowboy fan and will try to shoot straight with y'all.
I see some Saint fans here that are like me . . . I don't know a whole lot about my opponent this week (although there's a lot of Saints fans here in SE Tx, Houston and DFW thanks to Katrina).
First off, a page back someone mentioned All-Pro CB DaRon Bland. He's on week 2 of being out for 6 weeks with a broken bone in his foot. He's replaced by a rookie, Caelen Carson, who looks like a dawg but is still a rookie (2nd game) and is susceptible to the double move. Dallas has a great DB coach.
Dallas started 5 players that were playing their first NFL game last week against the Browns. Carson was one. LT Guyton went against Myles Garrett most of the game and gave up one sack but didn't grade well (PFF) but acceptable results. Center Cooper Beebe graded well and will be a great O-lineman (another dawg). Also his first ever game as a center. LB DeMarvion Overshown (missed all of 2023 - ACL) also started his 1st NFL game and tied with with vet Eric Kendricks (LB Minn.) for most tackles and also had one sack and has blazing speed.
So I have no idea how these teams will matchup. Dallas DL is avg. up the middle, really good LE and rookie RE (Marshawn Kneeland) who played a solid game against the Browns. LB's were really good against Cleveland and the DB's weren't challenged. Dallas has strong safety play with experience back there and hitters ... good depth too.
My take on Dallas D ... DB's will be susceptible to double moves, hard to get wide on running plays, should be able to run inside on them moderately. The Shanahan style weakness should be controlled now that Dan Quinn is gone with his weak azzed schemes.
On offense I see CeeDee Lamb as not up to speed since he held out ALL of camp and PS. It showed against Cleveland (targeted 10 / caught 5). Backup TE is not a starter because, well, he is backup talent . . . Dallas will miss Jake Ferguson. Brandin Cooks caught a lot of shade here but I see him as a plus. Don't sleep on #3 receiver Jalen Brooks. Dallas OL will be a strength by mid-season but they can be moved now ... I see Dak having to move the pocket some and do short and intermediate passing.. (Heard Lattimore may be out but I doubt it). Dallas averaged 4 YPC against a really good front 7 in week 1. Don't see them doing much better than that this week tho.
A quick rundown of Dallas' game against Cleveland: Deshaun Watson sucks. Cleveland started 2 backups on the OL and it showed ... Watson was sacked 6 times and pressured 25 times on 56 attempts. Cleveland had something like 14 yards total offense in the 1st half (1 first down). Dallas went up 24 points early in the 2nd half and went plain jane vanilla offense and defense for most of the 2nd half. The game was never close. Only Dallas 4th win on grass in their last 12 games. Cleveland was a 2.5pt favorite. Cleveland had the #1 defense in 2023 and the DC and talent was essentially the same Dallas had 275 ttl yards. Cleveland went up early 3-0 and Dallas scored the next 27 points.
My take on Dallas . I have no freakin idea what to expect from NO but at least y'all have a scouting report. (I've had some health issues and not been able to do my homework on opponents this year).
By history of the last 10 games (which means nothing) these 2 teams generally play close games and for some reason there's no love lost between them.