The Dallas Cowboys (1-0) host the New Orleans Saints (1-0) in Week 2 of the 2024-25 NFL season for an all-NFC clash. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM EST on September 15th at AT&T Stadium.
Both franchises got off to a hot start during opening weekend, as New Orleans crushed Carolina 47-10 while the Cowboys cruised past Cleveland 33-17 on the road. Oddsmakers are expecting a lot of offense in this matchup, as the total is currently one of the highest on the board here in Week 2.
While most of the focus and attention heading into this matchup has been on the brilliant play of both offenses, it is important to remember that some very impressive defensive talent will be on display on Sunday afternoon as well. While both teams did combine to score a jaw-dropping 80 total points in Week 1, their 27 combined points allowed was also quite solid.
Matchup Details, Betting Market Information and Where to Watch
Oddsmakers opened this game up with the Cowboys listed as 6.5-point home favorites. The spread hasn’t really moved all that much in either direction after early betting, as Dallas is still currently available at -6.5 on most sportsbooks. The total for this matchup is 46.5 points. Viewers hoping to watch the game should note that it will be televised exclusively on the FOX Sports Network. In Canada, the game will also be available on DAZN.
New Orleans Saints Dominant on Both Sides of the Ball
Pretty much everything went right for the Saints in Week 1, as they were dominant on both sides of the ball against visiting Carolina. QB Derek Carr was impressive in his season debut, going 19/23 for 200 yards and three touchdowns through the air. RB Alvin Kamara also put on a clinic, scampering for over 100 total yards and a touchdown while also adding five catches.
Members of the New Orleans receiving corps also impressed against the Panthers, as speedster Rashid Shaheed electrified the home crowd with a long touchdown in the first half. New addition Foster Moreau also turned in a quality performance, recording four receptions for 43 yards. As a whole, the Saints offense racked up nearly 400 total yards of offense against a subpar Carolina defense.
On the other side of the ball, New Orleans completely shut down Bryce Young and the rest of the Panthers offense. The Saints only yielded 219 total yards of offense the entire game, while also scoring a defensive touchdown on one of their two total interceptions. Neither of Carolina’s two backs got anything going on the ground for the most part either, as Sanders and Hubbard combined for only 36 total rushing yards.
Dallas Cowboys Win Convincingly in Cleveland
The Cowboys also came out strong in the first week of the regular season, jumping out to a 20-3 lead in the first half. Dallas let the Browns score two touchdowns in the second half but still went on to win handily 33-17. QB Dak Prescott didn’t have his best outing against a tough Cleveland secondary, as he was just 19/32 for 179 passing yards and a single touchdown. RB Ezekiel Elliott averaged 4.0 yards per carry and managed to find the end zone, while Rico Dowdle also chipped in with 32 total yards.
Star wideout CeeDee Lamb led the way for the receiving corps after signing a massive contract in August, although it was still a fairly quiet outing overall when compared to the numbers he put up per game during 2023-24. Lamb caught just five passes for 61 receiving yards, but it was WR Brandin Cooks who scored the only touchdown of the game through the air.
There were a lot of strong performances from members of the Cowboys defense in Week, as the Browns managed to only throw for 169 yards through the air. Cleveland didn’t fare much better running the ball, as Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr. combined for only 54 total yards on the ground.
Our Saints vs Cowboys NFL Betting Prediction and Pick
There’s a lot for fans to look forward to in this high-powered matchup, as both offenses should continue to find success after putting on a show in Week 1. While I do understand why Dallas is favored at home this weekend, the big spread currently looks like a lot of points to lay when considering how impressive the Saints were on defense last Sunday.
New Orleans also has a ton of depth on offense, with Olave, Shaheed, and Kamara all more than capable of breaking off a huge play at any time. They should be able to keep pace with Dallas for at least three quarters in this spot, and may even have a chance to win the game outright if the strong play from their defense continues.
Against the Spread Betting Market Tip: Saints +6.5
I think that the sharp play for bettors on Sunday afternoon is to take the 6.5 points and hope that New Orleans can continue their impressive play on both sides of the ball. Of course, the Cowboys do pose a much more difficult challenge than the lowly Panthers did. However, there is no reason to think that Carr and Co. won’t continue to put points on the board against a Dallas defense that showed a bit of vulnerability during the second half against Cleveland where they were actually outscored 14-13.
Another important aspect of this game is the Cowboys running game, as they didn’t really show a lot of explosiveness in Week 1. The Saints defense did a great job pressuring Bryce Young, which is critical to their success against Prescott and Co. when considering how dangerous CeeDee Lamb is on the outside. Ultimately, I have enough faith in New Orleans to keep pace with Dallas and grind out a tough cover on the road this Sunday. Take the 6.5 points and look for the Saints to keep this one close.
