Everyone thought they knew how the Dallas Cowboys vs New Orleans Saints matchup was going to go in the early parts of the 2024 season. Dallas was coming off a massive home winning streak. Sixteen games. They hadn't lost a regular-season game at AT&T Stadium in nearly two years. Then Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara walked into the building and basically lit the whole script on fire.
It wasn't just a loss for Dallas. It was a 44-19 shellacking that left fans wondering if the Cowboys' defense had stayed in the locker room.
Honestly, looking at the history of these two teams, this kind of unpredictability is actually the only consistent thing about it. Dallas leads the all-time series 19-15, but that doesn't tell the story of the wild swings in momentum. We’ve seen Dallas hold a 12-game winning streak in the past, only for the Saints to fire back with an 11-game run of their own.
The Day the 16-Game Streak Died
Sept. 15, 2024. Most Cowboys fans probably want to delete that date from their memory banks.
New Orleans didn't just win; they were perfect. The Saints' first-team offense scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions. Imagine that. You line up, you drive, you score. You do it five more times before you even think about punting. Derek Carr finished with a 125.0 passer rating, going 11 for 16 for 243 yards.
But Alvin Kamara was the real nightmare for Mike Zimmer’s defense.
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He found the end zone four times. Three on the ground, one through the air on a 57-yard screen pass that made the Cowboys' secondary look like they were running in sand. He finished with 115 rushing yards and 65 receiving yards. It was a throwback performance that reminded everyone why he's the Saints' all-time leader in touchdowns.
On the other side, Dak Prescott struggled under the weight of a disappearing run game. He threw two interceptions and was sacked three times. The Saints' defense, led by Bryan Bresee and Carl Granderson, lived in the backfield. Paulson Adebo snagged a pick that effectively ended any hope of a Dallas comeback.
Why the Saints Scheme Broke Dallas
Klint Kubiak. That’s the name Dallas fans started muttering in their sleep.
The Saints’ new offensive coordinator brought a heavy dose of motion and play-action that basically paralyzed the Cowboys' linebackers. They couldn't figure out where the ball was going. While the Cowboys had led the league in pressures and sacks in Week 1 against Cleveland, they looked totally toothless against the Saints’ quick-strike attack.
It was a tactical masterclass.
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Historic Rivalry: More Than Just One Game
If you go back further, the Dallas Cowboys vs New Orleans Saints history is littered with these weirdly lopsided results.
Dallas once owned this series. Between 1973 and 1994, they won 8 out of 10 meetings. Their biggest win ever against New Orleans was a 40-3 blowout back in 1973. But the 2000s saw the Saints claw back. The 2013 game in New Orleans was a particular low point for Dallas—a 49-17 loss where the Saints set an NFL record with 40 first downs.
- The 2009 Upset: The undefeated Saints were 13-0 and looking like a lock for a perfect season. Dallas went into the Superdome and pulled off a 24-17 shocker that saved their season.
- The 2018 Defensive Battle: In a rare low-scoring affair, the Cowboys' defense held a high-flying Drew Brees offense to just 10 points in a 13-10 victory that signaled Dallas was a legitimate contender.
- The 2021 Taysom Hill Game: A strange Thursday night game where Dak Prescott led Dallas to a 27-17 win, mostly because Taysom Hill threw four interceptions while playing with a mangled finger.
What the Numbers Tell Us (And What They Don't)
Stats are great, but they sort of lie in this matchup. If you look at the average points per game over 34 meetings, it’s almost a dead heat. Dallas averages 20.41. New Orleans averages 20.44.
That 0.03 difference is basically a rounding error.
Yet, only 10 of their 34 games have been decided by a touchdown or less. This isn't a rivalry of "close calls." It's a rivalry of "whoever shows up, dominates." When the Saints win, they tend to win big, like the 42-17 drubbing in 2006 or the most recent 25-point gap in 2024.
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The Venue Factor
The Saints actually play better at AT&T Stadium than most teams. They have a 2-1 record there in recent years. Meanwhile, Dallas has historically struggled in the Superdome, where the noise and the "Who Dat" chant seem to mess with their pre-snap communication.
Misconceptions About the Matchup
A lot of people think Dallas is the "big brother" in this relationship because of the five Super Bowl rings. But since the 2006 season—the start of the Sean Payton/Drew Brees era—the Saints have actually won 9 of the last 13 meetings.
Dallas fans often go into these games expecting a win because of the "star" on the helmet, but the reality is that New Orleans has been the more consistent franchise in this head-to-head for the better part of two decades.
The 2024 game proved that the "talent gap" people talk about is often an illusion. Dallas had the Pro Bowlers on defense—Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, DeMarcus Lawrence—but New Orleans had the better plan.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Meeting
If you're betting on or just watching the next Dallas Cowboys vs New Orleans Saints game, keep these specific factors in mind to cut through the broadcast hype:
- Watch the First Two Drives: Since 2023, the Saints are 9-1 when they allow fewer than 20 points. If they score early and force Dallas into a one-dimensional passing game, it's over.
- Check the Slot Matchup: CeeDee Lamb dominates from the slot, but the Saints' secondary (specifically Alontae Taylor) has shown a unique ability to bracket elite receivers and take away the middle of the field.
- The "Post-Big Win" Trap: Dallas has a tendency to struggle the week after a massive emotional victory. Conversely, New Orleans under Dennis Allen has often been at their best when they are overlooked as underdogs.
- Turnover Margin is King: In the 2021 matchup, turnovers (4-1 in favor of Dallas) decided the game despite New Orleans having more total yards. In 2024, Dallas’s two interceptions were the final nails in the coffin.
To stay ahead of the curve, track the Saints' offensive line health. Their ability to protect Derek Carr—who historically struggles under pressure but is elite when clean—is the single biggest variable in how this rivalry plays out in the mid-2020s.