The Saints’ dominant Week 1 win over the Panthers has been met with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Most view the 47-10 demolition as an aberration. After all, how much can truly be learned playing the worst team in football?
New Orleans won’t wait to prove whether its Week 1 performance says more about it or Carolina.
This weekend, the Saints travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys (1 p.m. EST, Fox), a game that will better indicate the Saints’ place in the NFL’s 2024 hierarchy.
The Cowboys have gone 12-5 in each of the past three seasons and, like the Saints, were dominant in Week 1, beating the Browns, 33-17, on the road.
New Orleans’ offensive line will be tested against Dallas’ elite pass-rushing duo, Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
The unit held up well against the Panthers, including embattled right tackle Trevor Penning, who was benched after six starts last season. Per Pro Football Focus, Penning only allowed one pressure in 28 pass-blocking situations on Sunday.
But the Cowboys’ two-headed monster significantly ups the difficulty level.
According to Pro Football Focus data, Parsons tied for the most total pressures in Week 1 (11), while Lawrence tied for fourth (seven) through Sunday’s games.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr was only pressured on three pass attempts against Carolina, the lowest among Week 1 starting quarterbacks entering “Monday Night Football.”
How the Saints offensive line performs against arguably the league’s top pass-rushing duo will speak volumes about what kind of season New Orleans could have.
In its drubbing of Carolina, it certainly looked the part of a playoff contender.
Then again, it also played that role perfectly in the 2021 opener against the Packers, when former quarterback Jameis Winston threw five touchdowns and outdueled Aaron Rodgers in a 38-3 rout.
Or, in Week 5 last season, when it went to New England and throttled the Patriots, 34-0.
How did those seasons end? With the Saints clearing their lockers ahead of wild-card weekend.
New Orleans has plenty to prove before it’s taken seriously as a playoff threat. A 37-point win over the Panthers didn’t move the needle, but a road win against the Cowboys will.
