Week 2, but the New Orleans Saints are up against one of their toughest challengers of the season. The Dallas Cowboys had a dominant performance against the Cleveland Browns in their season opener and aim to replicate that success in their home opener against New Orleans.

The Cowboys have won 16 consecutive regular-season home games, just two shy of tying the franchise record. The Saints will have to contend with a lively crowd at AT&T Stadium, a venue they last triumphed at on December 23, 2012. However, the Who Dat Nation has shown strong support, nearly filling the stadium with their presence.

THE CHALLENGE IN DALLAS.

The Saints had a flawless performance in their 47-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, scoring on their first nine possessions and not punting until the middle of the fourth quarter. However, facing this week’s opponent in their venue will be a different challenge.

“We understand each game is a week-to-week affair,” said Saints all-purpose player Taysom Hill to reporters. “We recognize that Dallas is a strong football team. This presents a great opportunity for us to go on the road and compete against a really good team.”

Historically, the Saints have struggled in Dallas, holding a 4-11 record against the Cowboys. Under Head Coach Dennis Allen, New Orleans has a 7-10 record in road games over the past two seasons. Dallas has the most home victories against the Saints of any non-NFC East team, with 11 wins.

KEYS TO VICTORY.

A crucial factor in managing the crowd on the road is to neutralize the Cowboys’ strong pass rush. Last week, this unit pressured Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, sacking him six times and delivering 17 pressures. Dallas allowed only one first down in the first half, limiting the Browns to 54 total yards.

The Saints need to rely on their running game to ease the pressure on quarterback Derek Carr. Alvin Kamara rushed for 83 yards last week, his highest total since 2022. The All-Pro running back achieved over 100 yards from scrimmage for the 50th time in his career with the Saints.

Getting Kamara involved out of the backfield with touches in open space can help counter Mike Zimmer’s aggressive defensive strategy. However, containing superstar defender Micah Parsons is a daunting task, particularly for the young Saints tackles Fuaga and Penning.

MAKING A STATEMENT.

A victory at Jerry’s World would make a significant statement for the Saints, who are 6.5-point underdogs against the Cowboys. Many analysts brushed off the Saints’ Week 1 win as a result of facing a weak Panthers team. A win on Sunday could change perceptions and highlight New Orleans’ potential. Winning in Dallas will be tough, but it’s a crucial step for competing in the NFC this season.

Week 2 Insider: New Orleans Saints Betting Tips To Consider.

As another week unfolds in the NFL, two things are certain: fans are diving into fantasy football and placing bets at sportsbooks. In line with Week 1, we present a weekly guide featuring some of the best betting options for the Saints. Here are the current odds for the Saints-Cowboys matchup in Week 2.

Trends 56% of bettors are backing the spread, while 58% of the money is on the Cowboys. Additionally, 92% of bettors are choosing the over.

WHY THE SAINTS COULD WIN AND COVER: The Cowboys are currently on a 16-game home winning streak, just two wins shy of their franchise record. They have won the last two encounters in Arlington (in 2018 and 2014), but before that, New Orleans had a four-game winning streak against them. Being the underdog could work in the Saints’ favor, and if they can replicate their performance against the Panthers, they could make the game quite competitive. At the very least, they should be able to keep it close and cover the spread.

Saints Anytime TD Scorer.

Alvin Kamara (+120)

Chris Olave (+175)

Rashid Shaheed (+220)

Taysom Hill (+250)

Juwan Johnson (+300)

Jamaal Williams (+400)

Saints D/ST (+500)

Foster Moreau (+700)