The Saints entered Sunday’s game against the Cowboys in Arlington as six-point underdogs.
They proceeded to prove to the world that oddsmakers know nothing about football.
The Saints scored touchdowns on their first six possessions and dismantled the Cowboys, 44-19.
Star running back Alvin Kamara gained 180 all-purpose yards — 115 on the ground and 65 through the air — and scored four touchdowns.
Kamara says the whole team is firing on all cylinders.
“There’s been a lot of complimentary football around here,” Kamara said after the game. “Guys playing big-time football — offensively, defensively (and) special teams-wise. Just speaking for the offense, (if) we’re able to go out there and execute, limit the self-inflicted wounds (and) have explosive plays, the sky’s the limit.”
Of Kamara’s 65 receiving yards, 57 of them came on a touchdown reception early in the second quarter.
“(Offensive coordinator) Klint (Kubiak) called it right on time,” said Kamara of his 57-yard TD catch and carry. “O-line did their job, and I think we just had a great play all the way around. It felt like a practice rep. It was easy for me, I didn’t even have to run really.”
In all, the Saints gained 190 rushing yards, and Coach Dennis Allen says that took a load off quarterback Derek Carr.
“I think he’s been freed up a little bit in terms of not having to control every single thing on the line of scrimmage,” said Coach Allen. “He’s able to really go out there and play. And I think quarterbacks tend to play better when you’re able to run the football effectively, and our offensive line has gone a good job of protecting him.”
Carr completed 11 of 16 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns.
“I promised our team and I promised our city, I was going to do everything in my power and exhaust everything that I can even begin to imagine to try and just be better this year,” said Carr. “And so far, we’ve started off good.”
Kamara is thrilled at Carr’s success so far this season.
“It almost feels better for me seeing that than me getting the success, because I know how hard he works, and I know the city has been hard on him,” Kamara said. “You’re coming in (and) you’re trying to fill the shoes of Drew Brees. He’s been that guy for so long, that’s hard for anyone to do. But he’s taking on the challenge. He’s working hard, and he just wants to lead, so we’re following the leader.”
Carr’s Cowboys counterpart, Dak Prescott, also had a good game, completing 27 out of 39 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown.
But the Saints’ defense clamped down nearly every time the Cowboys got to the doorstep.
“We knew this was going to be one of these games that they were going to get some yards at times,” said Allen. “But the plan was to make them have to kick field goals when they got down there in the red area. I thought we did a good job in doing that.”
That they did, only giving up that one touchdown and forcing the Cowboys to settle for four Brandon Aubrey field goals.
Prescott also threw two interceptions, including one to Paulson Adebo with just over a minute left in the first half that he returned 47 yards to the Cowboys’ 20, setting up a Saints touchdown that put them up 35-13.
Dating back to their opening week demolition of the Carolina Panthers, the Saints’ first team offense scored on their first 15 possessions to start the season.
That streak was finally snapped early in the fourth quarter when Derek Carr had a pass picked off by Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson.
The Saints got the ball back on the very next play when Tyrann Mathieu intercepted a Dak Prescott pass, sending most of the crowd of 93,691 minus those from Who Dat nation who made the 530-mile drive from the Big Easy to Arlington to the exits.
“I knew what play I was getting,” Mathieu said of his interception. “It was all about getting to that catch point and making the play. And so, I don’t think it was anything special that I did, it was one of those situations where the play call and opportunity presents itself.”
Kamara was grateful to the Saints fans who made the trek from New Orleans, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine.
“I know a lot of people that went through that storm and said they were on their way to Dallas,” said Kamara. “So the support from the city is amazing — they put their blood, sweat and tears into this as much as we do. So it’s definitely refreshing, and it’s really dope to see Who Dat nation still in support out here, no matter what’s going on back at home.”
The Saints’ 91 points through their first two games are by far the most in the NFL.
Carr says don’t just credit the offense — credit the whole team.
“This game is a team game, it’s a selfless game,” Carr said. “And when you’re a team and when you’re selfless, these kind of days can happen, and our guys are fully bought into that.”
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