Defense Shines as Saints Top Cowboys, 12-10
The New Orleans Saints held the Dallas Cowboys to just 257 yards of offense and Wil Lutz kicked four field goals as the Saints (3-1) won their second straight game without quarterback Drew Brees, beating the Cowboys 12-10 Sunday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
It's the first time since 1998 the Saints won a game without scoring a touchdown.
The Saints held the Cowboys to 23 points under their scoring average in their first three games. The Cowboys managed just 45 yards rushing on 20 attempts, with Ezekiel Elliott managing just 37 yards on 19 carries. The Saints also forced three turnovers.
Teddy Bridgewater completed 23-30 passes for 193 yards. He was sacked five times. Alvin Kamara led the Saints on the ground with 69 yards on 17 carries.
Dallas got on the board after a turnover when Ted Ginn bobbled a pass from Teddy Bridgewater. The Cowboys drove 44 yards and got a 28 yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
The Saints got the points right back with a 52 yard drive resulting in a 40 yard field goal by Wil Lutz. The Saints took the lead on the ensuing possession after a Cowboys' punt on another field goal, this one from 42 yards. Then, late in the second quarter, an Ezekiel Elliott fumble gave the Saints good field possession and they drove inside the Dallas five yard line, but had to settle for another Lutz field goal, giving the Saints a 9-3 lead at the half.
Penalties hurt the Saints in the first half as they were flagged six times for 60 yards, with several of those penalties thwarting drives.
The Saints punted after their first possession of the second half and the Cowboys drove 84 yards on eleven plays with Elliott scoring from a yard out to give the Cowboys a 10-9 lead. The drive was kept alive on a pass interference call against Demario Davis on a third and 2 at the Dallas 36.
The Saints responded with a 15 play, 67 yard drive that ate up over nine minutes, but had to settle for Lutz' fourth field goal of the game which gave the Saints a 12-10 lead with 13:45 left in the fourth quarter.