Would have been one of the best Sunday night matchups of the season in Week 4 with the Dallas Cowboys visiting the New Orleans Saints, but it loses a lot of luster with a certain future Hall of Fame quarterback sidelined. The Saints aren’t underdogs at home often but are here.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

One could have easily convinced this writer that Sunday night’s matchup between the Cowboys and Saints from New Orleans would have been an NFC Championship Game preview. Both teams won their respective divisions last year and of course the Saints reached the NFC title game but lost in controversial fashion to the Los Angeles Rams.

Not saying the Cowboys and Saints won’t make it to that game in January, but New Orleans’ task is a lot tougher now after losing superstar quarterback Drew Brees – arguably the best regular-season QB in NFL history – to a thumb injury in Week 2. That required surgery and will knock Brees out anywhere from 6-8 weeks. What kind of shape will the Saints be in by the time he returns? And what if backup/new starter Teddy Bridgewater were to go down?

One of the highest-rated and most-wagered games of the entire 2018 regular season was Week 13 in Dallas when the Saints were on a 10-game winning streak but were upset 13-10 – easily the fewest points New Orleans scored all year. The Saints had just 176 yards and were shut out in the first half. The only touchdown was a Zeke Elliott 16-yard reception from Dak Prescott late in the first quarter.

Dallas is 1-5 ATS in its past six trips to the Big Easy.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys might be the NFC’s best team in the early going and already have a two-game lead in the NFC East after winning 31-6 over hapless Miami on Sunday. Prescott threw for 246 yard and two scores while running for another TD, and both Elliott (125 yards) and rookie Tony Pollard (103) rushed for at least 100 yards. Amari Cooper caught both of Prescott’s TD throws. The Cowboys are 3-0 for the first time since 2008. Good-looking young receiver Michael Gallup missed the game with a meniscus injury and is out at least one more week. Dallas is 7-3 ATS in its past 10 after a win.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints were upset winners in their first game without Brees on Sunday, 33-27 in Seattle. Bridgewater threw for 177 yard and two scores, and New Orleans scored on both special teams and defence. it was the Seahawks’ first home loss in September during the Pete Carroll era. They had been 15-0. Alvin Kamara rushed for a touchdown and caught a TD pass. Receiver Tre’Quan Smith missed it with an ankle injury and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins still has yet to debut in 2019 off an Achilles injury suffered late last season. The Saints are 0-6 ATS in their past six after a win.

Who Will Win Cowboys vs. Saints?

Weather

temp	87
condition	dome

Injuries

Dallas

Demarcus Lawrence (DE)

day-to-day Ribs - 29 / 12 / 19

Byron Jones (CB)

Ques Sun Ankle - 27 / 12 / 19

Chris Covington (LB)

Ques Sun Illness - 26 / 12 / 19

Antwaun Woods (DT)

Out Sun Hip - 26 / 12 / 19

C.J. Goodwin (CB)

Ques Sun Thumb - 25 / 12 / 19

Jeff Heath (S)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19

Chris Jones (P)

Ques Sun Abdominal - 25 / 12 / 19

Demarcus Lawrence (DE)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19

Sean Lee (LB)

Prob Sun Pectoral - 25 / 12 / 19

Dak Prescott (QB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19

New Orleans

Kiko Alonso (LB)

day-to-day Knee - 05 / 01 / 20

Mario Edwards Jr. (DE)

Out Sun Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20

Craig Robertson (LB)

Ques Sun Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20

Dwayne Washington (RB)

Prob Sun Knee - 01 / 01 / 20

Zach Line (FB)

Out Sun Knee - 28 / 12 / 19

C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S)

Ques Sun Knee - 25 / 12 / 19

Krishawn Hogan (WR)

I-R Hamstring - 25 / 12 / 19

Eli Apple (CB)

I-R Ankle - 22 / 12 / 19

Marcus Williams (S)

Prob Sun Groin - 22 / 12 / 19

Ryan Ramczyk (T)

Ques Sun Knee - 19 / 12 / 19

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Demarcus Lawrence (DE)	day-to-day	Ribs - 29 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Lawrence left Sunday's game with injured ribs, and it is unclear if he will return.
Byron Jones (CB)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 27 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Jones is tending to a sprained ankle, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Redskins on Sunday.
Chris Covington (LB)	Ques Sun	Illness - 26 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Covington is dealing with an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Redskins on Sunday.
Antwaun Woods (DT)	Out Sun	Hip - 26 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Woods is dealing with injuries to his hip and ankle, and he will not be able to take the field against the Redskins on Sunday.
C.J. Goodwin (CB)	Ques Sun	Thumb - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Goodwin is limited by a thumb injury, and his status for Sunday's clash against the Redskins is in question.
Jeff Heath (S)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Heath has a shoulder injury, leaving his availability undetermined for Sunday's matchup with the Redskins.
Chris Jones (P)	Ques Sun	Abdominal - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Jones is dealing with an abdominal injury, and it is undetermined if he will face the Redskins on Sunday.
Demarcus Lawrence (DE)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Lawrence has a shoulder injury, and his availability is unknown for Sunday's battle against the Redskins.
Sean Lee (LB)	Prob Sun	Pectoral - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Lee is managing pectoral and thigh injuries, but he is projected to suit up for Sunday's game against the Redskins.
Dak Prescott (QB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 25 / 12 / 19	0-1	0-1	+ -
Prescott is dealing with a right shoulder injury, but it is not expected to impede his status for Sunday's game against the Redskins.

New Orleans

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kiko Alonso (LB)	day-to-day	Knee - 05 / 01 / 20	1-0	1-0	+ -
Alonso left Sunday's game due to a knee injury and will not return.
Mario Edwards Jr. (DE)	Out Sun	Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20	1-0	1-0	+ -
Edwards Jr. has a hamstring injury, and will not be available to face the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round.
Craig Robertson (LB)	Ques Sun	Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20	1-0	1-0	+ -
Robertson is managing a hamstring injury, and it is unclear if he will be available to face the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round.
Dwayne Washington (RB)	Prob Sun	Knee - 01 / 01 / 20	1-0	1-0	+ -
Washington hurt his knee, but he is expected to take on the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round.
Zach Line (FB)	Out Sun	Knee - 28 / 12 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Line is tending to a knee injury, and he will not be available for the NFC wild-card round versus the Vikings.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S)	Ques Sun	Knee - 25 / 12 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Gardner-Johnson is nursing an injured knee, and it is unclear if he will play against the Panthers on Sunday.
Krishawn Hogan (WR)	I-R	Hamstring - 25 / 12 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Hogan has landed on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury.
Eli Apple (CB)	I-R	Ankle - 22 / 12 / 19	3-0	2-1	+ -
Apple is on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Marcus Williams (S)	Prob Sun	Groin - 22 / 12 / 19	3-0	2-1	+ -
Williams is dealing with an injured groin, but it is anticipated that he will play in the NFC wild-card round against the Vikings.
Ryan Ramczyk (T)	Ques Sun	Knee - 19 / 12 / 19	3-0	2-1	+ -
Ramczyk is managing a knee injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Titans on Sunday.