Quick Take: Cowboys/Saints

Published: Dec 15, 2009 at 05:01 AM

In Brief

» Last meeting:Drew Brees passed for 348 yards and five touchdowns as the Saints rocked the Cowboys, 42-17, in Week 14 of the 2006 season.
» Streaks: The Saints have won five in a row, but still trail the overall series, 14-8.
» Last week:Jonathan Vilma made a pair of key defensive plays down the stretch to seal the Saints' 26-23 win over the Falcons. ... The Cowboys came up a bit short against the Chargers, falling 20-17.

Keep your eye on ...The Saints' stressful streak: As New Orleans continues its march toward perfection, it is growing more difficult by the week. The Saints pulled off an improbable comeback in Washington two weeks ago, and hung on for a tough win at Atlanta last week. Being back at home should help ease the pressure.

New Orleans' effectiveness on the ground: When the Saints are at their best they have outstanding balance offensively. They have the NFC's second-best rushing attack this season, averaging 138.9 yards per game. Over the last two weeks, however, they have averaged just 75 rushing yards.

Dallas' mindset: Until the Cowboys string together a few key December wins, they will continue to hear questions about their annual late-season collapse. A win over the undefeated Saints would go a long way towards putting those concerns to rest -- at least for a week.

Did you know?

The Saints have won a franchise record 13 games already this season. ... New Orleans leads the NFC with 24 interceptions. ... This game features the NFC's top two offenses (The Saints are No. 1 and the Cowboys are No. 2). ... If the playoffs started today, both the Cowboys and Saints would be in. Get an updated look at the postseason picture.

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