Saints need a strong run defense to beat the Cowboys in Week 2

The New Orleans Saints face their first road challenge of the season when they travel to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Dallas is fresh off an impressive 33-17 road win over the Cleveland Browns. The Saints were equally impressive with their 47-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

New Orleans has been somewhat inconsistent in the running game over the past two years. That wasn't the case Sunday, when they held the Panthers to just 58 yards on the ground and 2.9 per carry, both numbers that were the best in the NFL in the opening week.

The Cowboys were quite successful against Cleveland, but will likely rely on their passing game this year. However, a competent running attack is important for balance and will make QB Dak Prescott and his receivers all the more effective.

New Orleans run defense

After finishing 24th in the running game in 2022, the Saints improved only slightly to 22nd last season. Over the past two years, they have allowed over 125 yards per game on the ground and an equally worrisome 4.5 yards per run.

The Panthers' early lead against Carolina caused them to essentially give up on the run. However, the Saints thwarted most of the early running attempts, preventing the Panthers from getting an equalizer.

New Orleans' defensive tackles had an outstanding game in Week 1. Led by Nathan Shepherd and Bryan Bresee, the unit was able to consistently penetrate Carolina's backfield and defuse many plays. Depth is a bit thin with Khalen Saunders (calf) out, but rookie Khristian Boyd and veteran Kendal Vickers both showed they are good rotation players against the run.

After a strong rookie year, Bresee is expected to cause even more disruption this season. Shepherd is the underrated member of the defensive front line, but consistently makes stealthy plays in the trenches.

Defensive end Cameron Jordan is best known for his pass rushing abilities, but Jordan has always been one of the best run defenders in the league. Chase Young was excellent against the run in Week 1. He has been extremely disruptive since the second week of training camp.

Carl Granderson has improved as a run defender in each of his first six NFL seasons. As long as he stays disciplined, his performance against the run will hardly drop if he chooses Young or Jordan. When healthy, Payton Turner can also provide good snaps inside or out.

The Saints have an outstanding trio of dynamic and versatile linebackers, and they are even more disruptive when the defense has a good play up front.

One situation to keep an eye on this week is that of LB Willie Gay Jr. Gay came into the Carolina game with a back injury. He left the game after just nine snaps. He will likely be limited in practice this week and will not be involved until after the game begins.

Even if Gay is limited or out, the Saints will get strong play from linebackers Pete Werner and Demario Davis. Werner was quiet in Week 1, but he's great against the run and always close to the ball.

Davis remains one of the best all-around defenders in the league. His instincts and ability to read opposing offenses are unmatched. He combines these traits with a ferocious pursuit of the ball carrier. Davis will play and pass for his defense against the run in every game.

Few defensive backfields are as aggressive against the run as the Saints' safeties and cornerbacks. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo are more than just standouts in coverage. Neither hesitates when given the opportunity to strike at the line of scrimmage or stop a runner at the edge.

Alontae Taylor has developed into a versatile threat for the New Orleans defense. Taylor had three sacks on Panthers QB Bryce Young last week and is valuable in both slot and outside coverage. His physicality also allows him to be a factor against the run, especially when deployed as a slot corner instead of a third linebacker.

The abilities of Lattimore, Adebo and Taylor in coverage allow New Orleans to be creative when using its safeties. The Saints often drop Jordan Howden or Tyrann Mathieu near the line of scrimmage, while Will Harris shows good instincts when coming forward from a deep position to support the run.

Howden shows good physicality in the tackle box, although a lack of awareness can take him out of the game at times. Mathieu may have lost some of his energy over the years, but few safeties can match his awareness and ability to be near the ball on almost every play.

Dallas Attack

The Cowboys have had a slightly better than average offense in recent years, but that offense often let them down in their most important games. They also wanted to replace RB Tony Pollard in 2024, who had rushed for over 1,000 yards the last two years.

Rico Dowdle, who went undrafted in 2020, has developed into a good complementary back. He was the Cowboys' best returning rusher at the start of the offseason, rushing for 361 yards, a career-best rushing total in 2023.

Dallas responded by bringing back Ezekiel Elliott after a year away. Drafted fourth overall in 2016, Elliott is the third-leading runner in Cowboys history behind Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.

Elliott still runs hard, but is a far cry from the runner who rushed for over 1,000 yards in four of his first six seasons. Dallas is likely hoping to limit his touches early in the year to keep him fresh heading into the home stretch. Elliott ran 10 times for 40 yards in the opener against Cleveland, while Dowdle ran eight times for 26 yards.

Deuce Vaughn, a 2023 sixth-round pick, is nothing more than an occasional change of pace in passing situations, so the Cowboys added depth to the team by signing another experienced veteran.

Seven-year NFL veteran Dalvin Cook was added to Dallas' roster just before the season opener. He did not play against Cleveland, but we shouldn't expect Cook to remain inactive for long.

Cook, a second-round pick in a standout 2017 running back draft, rushed for 6,207 yards and 53 scores in his first six years in Minnesota, eclipsing 1,000 yards in four consecutive years between 2019 and 2022. But he looked worn out in his final year with the Vikings and failed to produce anything last season with the Jets and Ravens.

The Cowboys spent two high draft picks this spring to rebuild their ailing offensive line. First-round pick Tyler Guyton will start at left tackle, while the starting center is third-round pick Cooper Beebe.

Tyler Smith, a 2022 first-round pick, starts alongside Guyton at left guard. Right guard is 2016 first-round pick Zack Martin, but there are still concerns at the right tackle position with Terence Steele.

What you should see

Dallas will live or die by the pass this season. The Cowboys will use the pass to set up the run in most games, but an effective running attack will make Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks even more dangerous.

Whether Gay is healthy or not, it will come as no surprise that the Saints are running many sets with just two linebackers and an additional defensive back. That would help with coverage against Dallas' receivers, and New Orleans' defensive backs are usually solid against the run game.

For this strategy to work, the Saints' defensive line must win its battles in the trenches. The linebackers are not much of a concern. Davis, Werner and Gay are rarely in their position and are very good run defenders. Bresee and Shepherd must apply pressure inside and block running lanes inside. New Orleans' defensive ends must wrestle down the ball carrier to prevent him from getting to the second level while maintaining discipline.

The key matchup on that side of the ball will be whether the Saints pass defense can contain and counter the Cowboys passing attack. However, if they can stop the run and take away Dallas' balance, the Saints can be more aggressive and creative against Prescott and his receivers.