Alright y’all, week 13 Thursday Night Football is upon us, as America’s team travel to Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for an interesting showdown between two teams on the back foot. Dallas has lost three of their last four and New Orleans is on a four-game losing streak. Never in the Sean Payton era have the Saints lost five in a row. In week 12, the Cowboys lost an overtime nail-biter to the Raiders 36-33, and the Saints got blown out at home by the Bills, 31-6. The Saints have now lost the last two games by at least 11 points.

Someone has to get right here. Will it be the travelling offensive powerhouse or the scrappy defensive hometown team?

Cowboys:

• Current Record: 7-4 (3-2 away).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 419.9 (1st) // Passing – 292.4 (3rd) // Rushing – 127.5 (7th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 369.5 (26th) // Passing – 262.3 (27th) // Rushing – 107.3 (13th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 29.6 (3rd) // PPG Allowed – 22.7 (13th).
• Turnover Differential: +4 (Tied 9th).
• Injury Report (Out): Cedric Wilson – WR, Trysten Hill – DT.
• 3rd down defence over the last three weeks – 1st.
• Dallas has lost three of the last four games.
• Amari Cooper has been activated and Ceedee Lamb is back from concussion.

Saints:

• Current Record: 5-6 (2-3 home).
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 309.4 (27th) // Passing – 198.2 (27th) // Rushing – 111.2 (19th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 343.7 (12th) // Passing – 251.8 (23rd) // Rushing – 91.9 (3rd)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 23.4 (18th) // PPG Allowed – 22.6 (12th).
• Turnover Differential: +4 (Tied 9th).
• Injury Report (Out): Terron Armstead – OT, Ryan Ramczyk – OT, Alvin Kamara – RB, Jameis Winston – QB, Marcus Davenport – DE, Tanoh Kpassagnon – DE.
• 3rd down defence over the last three weeks – 30th
• New Orleans has lost four straight games.
• Taysom Hill has a 3-1 record as a starter.

Not all poor runs of form are created equal. While both teams are struggling, Dallas has lost to much better opposition and in far closer fashion. Of their three loses in the last five games, they have been beaten by Vegas, Kansas and Denver. They threw away the game against Vegas, with a mountain of penalties and lost to Kansas in Arrowhead. The defeat to Denver wasn’t great, but Denver have been looking like they are firing on all cylinders since. On the other hand, New Orleans have got hammered by the Bills and Eagles, and lost to Titans and Falcons in tight games. The Cowboys smashed the Falcons 43-3, at home. Give me the Cowboys -6.5, as this could be another blowout.

The Saints’ run defence is the best in the league, but their passing defence leaves a lot to be desired. The pressure is mounting on Dak Prescott, and this is the perfect opportunity to get right. Dallas will also likely have to abandon the run game and take the passing route. But with Ceedee Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup all on the field at the same time, that shouldn’t be a problem. Give me the Prescott, Lamb and Gallup over, any day.

Dak’s over is currently sitting at 280.5, which he has eclipsed in four of his last six games. I would expect him to hit that here for a number of reasons. 1). New Orleans will be without the current sack leaders in Davenport and Kpassagnon 2). Dallas will likely abandon the run and take advantage of the weak Saints’ pass defence 3). Head Coach Mike McCarthy is out with COVID, and I think OC Kellen Moore will go absolutely wild with complete play-calling abilities.

Ceedee Lamb’s over is currently sitting at 61.6, which he has hit in five of his last six games. The one under was the home game against Denver, where Dak had an absolute stinker.

Michael Gallup has had receiving yards totals of 42, 44 and 106 since his return from IR. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt in the first two games back, as I’m sure he was only warming up again. I’m also not getting carried away with the 106 yards last week, as Lamb and Cooper were both out.

As you know, I swing for the fences, so if one leg wins they all win. If they all lose.. well, you know the drill. What fun is going 2-2, anyway?

That’s it folks. Enjoy and stay safe out there x

J.

NAP: 7-10

CURRENT RECORD: 56-71