6:15 p.m., Cowboys by 7
Last meeting
Saints won 27-13 at Dallas on Dec. 12, 2004.
Spotlight on: Saints QB Drew Brees
Forget Reggie Bush and all the others. Brees is the one who, more than any other player or coach in N’Awlins, has made the Saints a legitimate franchise. Brees has thrown for 300-plus yards in each of his past five road games, with nine TDs and one INT. And he’s at his best when it counts most – at crunch time and on third down. He ranks third in the league in fourth-quarter passing and second on third down. Add it all up and what you’ve got is the MVP of the NFC, if not the whole league.
Who knew?
How much has Brees meant to the Saints offense? Consider this: They’re tied for the league lead with 15 TDs of 20-plus yards (13 pass, two run) and are second with 50 pass plays of 20-plus yards.
Etc.
Something has to give here. Saints No. 1 in the league in offense and Cowboys seventh in D. … Bush has 73 catches, putting him on pace for 97. … Memo to fantasy-leaguers who picked up Cowboys QB Tony Romo during the season: You’re not that smart. You lucked out. … Just wondering: With Cowboys having won five of six and Romo leading the league in passer rating, who’s T.O. supposed to scream at on the sideline? … Go figure. Bill Parcells 3-5 career vs. Saints. … Saints coach Sean Payton was Cowboys assistant from 2003-05. But then you knew that. … Dallas TB Marion Barber leads NFC with 13 TDs, half as many as league leader LaDainian Tomlinson.
Prediction: Saints 27, Cowboys 24
