The Saints' pass defense challenges the Cowboys' explosive passing game

In week 2 of the NFL season, the New Orleans Saints will face the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas easily defeated the Browns 33-17 in week 1. The Saints are also 1-0 in the table after a 47-10 win against Carolina.

New Orleans is expected to have one of the best defenses in the league in 2024. Only one team has allowed fewer points or yards in the opening week than the Saints. They are expected to be particularly strong against the pass, an area in which they have ranked in the league's top 10 in three of the last four years.

The Saints will face a prolific Cowboys offense. Dallas has ranked in the top five in both points and total yardage over the past two seasons. The Cowboys are particularly explosive with their passing game, where they have ranked in the top 10 in four of five seasons and achieved top-five production three times.

When New Orleans comes to Dallas on Sunday, it will be strength against strength on that side of the ball. Here's how the two strengths compare

New Orleans returns the entire 2023 defensive staff that ranked 10th against the pass and intercepted the third-most passes (18) in the league. In fact, they even added key players in DE Chase Young, LB Willie Gay Jr., S Will Harris and rookie CB Kool-Aid McKinstry. Remember, elite CB Marshon Lattimore also missed the final seven games of last season.

Lattimore (hamstring) left the field in last week's win over Carolina. Early indications are that he will be ready to play against Dallas, but his status will need to be closely monitored. Lattimore is one of the league's best cornerbacks and has the ability to shadow and shut down elite wideouts in one-on-one matchups.

Paulson Adebo had the best year of his career in 2023. Adebo intercepted four passes for the team, broke up 18 more (third most in the NFL), and allowed only 55% pass completions when targeted. When Lattimore was out, he showed that he was quite capable of keeping an opponent's best receiver in check.

Alontae Taylor has developed into a versatile defensive weapon. The physical Taylor can excel on the perimeter, but is also improving quickly in the slot. In addition, he is a disruptive blitzer from various spots in the formation.

If Lattimore can't play, we'll see more snaps from promising rookie McKinstry or preseason sensation Rico Payton. Safeties Tyrann Mathieu, Will Harris or Jordan Howden could also get more coverage reps in the slot. However, all three are better suited for off-ball coverage or deep support.

Demario Davis leads a trio of athletic and extremely versatile linebackers for the Saints. Davis and Willie Gay Jr. are both fluid and instinctive in zones and have the athleticism to cover backs or tight ends in man coverage. Pete Werner can be vulnerable in space but shows good short zone feel.

Davis also confuses opposing quarterbacks as a blitzer. He has a career-high 6.5 sacks over the past two years, including one against Carolina. The speedy Gay wasn't used as a blitzer much in Kansas City, but he has the same impact potential as Davis.

New Orleans recorded four sacks against Carolina, a promising start for a defense that managed just 34 sacks last season, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. Better pressure was a focus in the offseason for coach Dennis Allen, who was extremely aggressive with blitz packages against the Panthers.

Taylor accounted for three sacks and Davis for the other, but the team's defensive line was able to penetrate well all afternoon. End Chase Young was the best player with six pressures. Ends Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson, as well as DTs Bryan Bresee and Nathan Shepherd, also disrupted the Panthers' defense all afternoon.

At just 25 years old, Young is showing why he was the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. If he stays healthy and maintains his high level of play, he will likely be a destructive force for New Orleans' defense. Bresee, now entering his second year, can have the same impact on the team's interior.

The potential of Young and Bresee should create one-on-one matchups between ends Granderson and Jordan. After a breakout year, Granderson has improved in each of his first six seasons.

Ideally, Granderson and Young will get most of their time on the sidelines, keeping a future Hall of Famer fresh for specific situations or late in the game and down the stretch.

Cam Jordan may be 35, but he can still change a game. To maintain his effectiveness, it's best to limit his reps or use him in key situations. We'll also see Jordan slide inside in obvious passing situations to bolster the interior attack alongside Bresee or Shepherd with Granderson and Young on the wings.

Dak Prescott led the NFL in touchdown passes (36) and completions (410) last season while throwing for 4,516 yards. The Cowboys have been fairly balanced, but make no mistake, their offense is dependent on the success of Prescott and his wide receivers.

Prescott threw a league-high 15 interceptions in just 12 games in 2022. Last year, he reduced that number to nine while completing a career-high 69.5% of his passes. He was also sacked 39 times, the second-most in his first eight seasons.

The Cowboys responded by signing two new offensive linemen early in the draft. Tyler Guyton, selected in the first round, will fill the left tackle spot. Cooper Beebe, selected in the third round, won the starting center spot. The impressive Tyler Smith, a 2022 first-round pick, flanks Guyton at left guard. The usually solid RG Zack Martin is on the other side of Beebe, but RT Terence Steele remains shaky at right tackle.

Dallas doesn't throw much to the backs, but Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle are good check-down options. They could be more involved if TE Jake Ferguson (knee) can't play this week.

Ferguson caught 71 passes for 761 yards in 2023 and poses a problem for the defense up the middle. Blocking TE Luke Schoonmaker could have more targets if Ferguson is out, but he is far from the biggest threat as a pass receiver.

Prescott benefits from being able to target one of the league's most productive receivers. Physical fifth-year veteran CeeDee Lamb led the NFL last year with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns – both career highs. Lamb had at least 930 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons and over 1,000 yards in his last three.

Electrifying former Saint Brandin Cooks isn't what he once was, but he's still a capable big-play threat and a solid receiving tackle. Underrated third-year wide receiver Jalen Tolbert is a lanky target capable of playing deep or along the seam. Don't underestimate the abilities of explosive kick and punt returner KaVontae Turner, who is expected to be more involved in the Dallas offense.

If Marshon Lattimore plays, he can shine in matchups with a physically strong wideout like Lamb. If not, New Orleans' coverage is still in good hands with Adebo and Taylor at cornerback and Mathieu at safety.

Dennis Allen was extremely aggressive with his blitz packages last week. Don't be surprised to see the same against Prescott, who can become very inaccurate under pressure. If the Saints can pressure Prescott with linemen Young, Granderson, Jordan and Bresee, they won't be forced to blitz and can therefore keep Prescott and his blocking more off balance.

Stopping Dallas' running game early is obviously important, but the likely deciding matchup on that side of the ball is whether a stellar New Orleans pass defense can force Prescott into mistakes and smother the Cowboys' talented receivers.