On Deck will be here all season to provide you with everything you need to know (and a few things you don't) about every Cowboys game during the 2014 season.
The Opponent: This is by no means the "Aints" of the pre-2000s era, but it's not the Drew Brees machine of years past, either. At least not yet. They picked up their first win of the season on Sunday against an Adrian Peterson-less Vikings team that also saw their starting quarterback knocked out of the game early, and it was by no means a convincing win.
Past Meetings: The Cowboys are 15-11 all-time against the Saints, but New Orleans has actually won eight of the previous nine meetings, including last season's 49-17 demolition in the Superdome. Prior to that game, the Cowboys had two close losses to far superior Saints teams, but last year's loss is still being felt around these parts as it was a low point for an awful Cowboys defense last season.
Key Matchup: Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Cowboys secondary — Orlando Scandrick should be back in the starting lineup for the Cowboys and supplant Mo Claiborne, who should be relegated to special packages. But against the Saints' offense, the entire secondary will probably be on the field for much of the night. Brees hasn't been spectacular this season, but a lot of things point to the fact Sunday night could be Brees' coming out party for the 2014 season.
Who's Hot: DeMarco Murray has been the best running back in football through the season's first three weeks, and that's considering the fact he's fumbled in the first quarter in each of those three games. He's the only back in the league to find the end zone and eclipse 100 yards in all three games and he's been the bell-cow of the Cowboys' offense. After two subpar outings, Tony Romo bounced back from an early pick-6 on Sunday to turn in a really solid game in which he had a little more zing on his passes and even scrambled for a first down.
Brees had his best game of the season in the Saints' first win of the year, but it wasn't reminiscent of vintage Brees. He threw for 293 yards and two scores, one of which went to Marques Colston. With Mark Ingram out, Khiry Robinson shouldered the carries load at running back, rushing for 69 yards on 18 carries.
Who's Not: Mo Claiborne might have had the game-sealing interception on Sunday, which was great and all, but otherwise he was awful. It was one of the worst showings for a Cowboys cornerback in recent memory, as he got burned for two touchdowns and on the Rams' longest plays of the day.
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Despite his touchdown, Colston didn't do much else on Sunday, registering just one other catch for seven yards.
