New Orleans sealed up at least the No. 2 seed and the first-round bye and divisional round home game that comes with it with a close win over the Falcons this past Sunday.
Nothing is on the table this week on the surface, but bubbling below is a possible clinching of complete home-field advantage. Should the Saints beat Dallas and see Minnesota fall to Carolina Sunday night, New Orleans captures the No. 1 seed.
But that’s getting ahead of ourselves. New Orleans’ three-point win over Atlanta was the second three-point win in as many weeks. In other words, the Saints’ two closest games this season have come in the past two weeks.
New Orleans has won games by 18, 26, 20, 14, 21, 12, 8, 10, 5, 31, 21, 3 and 3 points.
It’s All History
The Saints and Cowboys have faced each other only 22 times, with Dallas leading the all-time series 14-8. However, the Saints are on a five-game win streak against the Cowboys, winning by a combined 135-64. And the Saints are 5-2 all-time against the Cowboys in the Superdome.
Everyone remembers the last time these two teams played. In Sean Payton’s and Drew Brees’ first season in New Orleans, they beat Dallas 42-17 on Sunday Night Football. That was in 2006.
After losing eleven of the first 12 in the series, the Saints have reeled off wins in 7 of the past 10 games.
New Orleans’ largest margin of victory came in a 28-0 win on Sept. 19, 1989 while the biggest loss came on Sept. 24, 1973 when Dallas won 40-3.
The Saints’ most points came in the 42-17 win in 2006 while their fewest points in the series is three, which happened in 1968 and 1973.
Dallas’ most points is 40, coming in 1973, while its fewest points is 0, coming in 1989.
The Last Time
Lots of records have fallen this season for the Saints. But what game-changing stats have occurred this season?
Let’s check.
- 100 yards rushing by a player: Pierre Thomas, 126 vs. Buffalo, 9/27/09
- Two rushing TDs in a single game: Mike Bell, vs. Tampa Bay, 11/22/09
- Two 100-yard receivers in a single game: Marques Colston (121) and Devery Henderson (116), vs. New England, 11/30/09
- Five FGs attempted in a single game: Garrett Hartley, vs. Redskins, 12/6/ 09
- Kickoff returned for a TD: Courtney Roby, vs. Rams, 11/15/09
But the one that stands out that hasn’t occurred in awhile?
- Punt blocked: Steve Gleason, vs. Atlanta, 9/25/06.
3's Company (third-down analysis)
166 plays overall of which 45 were runs and 121 were passes. They have averaged 4.42 yards per run and 8.02 yards per pass play.
• Third-and-short (1-2 yards) - 24 runs, 19 first downs; 14 passes, 5 first downs
• Third-and-(3-5) - 9 run, 3 first down; 46 passes, 31 first downs
• Third-and-(6-10) - 5 runs, 1 first downs; 38 passes, 15 first downs
• Third-and-(11-15) - 7 run, 0 first downs; 13 passes, 4 first downs
• Third-and-(16-plus) - 0 runs, 0 first downs; 10 passes, 2 first downs
