Saints are gaining credibility as NFC contenders after their rout of the Cowboys

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Former Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert sounded jubilant during a postgame radio show as he reviewed everything he thought New Orleans did well in its lopsided, Week 2 road victory over the favored Dallas Cowboys.

It was a long list of successes in areas that included the running game, passing game, pass rush and pass defense — and it took him more than 10 minutes to get through it.

“This is almost too good to be true!” Hebert exclaimed on the WWL broadcast. “Considering the expectations, this is so satisfying!"

The Saints have been a middling, non-playoff team for the past three seasons. They looked different in a 47-10 rout of Carolina in the Superdome in Week 1. But because of how the Panthers have struggled lately, it was difficult to discern how much better New Orleans might be this season.

A 44-19 victory over a Cowboys squad that hadn't lost a regular-season game at home in about two years offered more clarity.

“That’s a really good football team that we just played," third-year Saints coach Dennis Allen said. "So, hopefully our team will gain some confidence with that.”

What’s working

An offensive line with three new starters — including relatively inexperienced left and right tackles — has coalesced effectively in the opening weeks and appears to be thriving in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's system, which allows linemen to spend more plays attacking defensive players as run blockers than backing up in pass protection.

The Saints have rushed for 370 yards in two games, and that has allowed quarterback Derek Carr to operate comfortably on pass plays that often start with play-action fakes to running backs.

“When you’re able to run the ball and you’re able to put yourself in manageable situations, you’re not having to get into a drop back passing mode where they can just unleash their pass rush,” said Allen, a career defensive coach. “Klint and the guys had a good plan for how they wanted to protect in the passing game, and I think our offensive line did a good job executing.”

What needs help

The Saints rank 21st in covering kickoffs under new rules that special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi helped draft. New Orleans is allowing 25.8 yards per return. Two games is a small sample size and kickoff coverage has not kept the Saints from soundly defeating their first couple of opponents. But this is one area where New Orleans currently ranks in the bottom third of the NFL, even as it's been at or near the top of the league in just about everything else.

Stock up

Alvin Kamara continues to look robust, highly productive and committed to his Saints teammates, despite not yet getting the contract extension he has sought since the offseason. Through two games, the versatile running back has 290 yards and five TDs from scrimmage.

“We’re utilizing him in a way that allows him to be effective,” Allen said. “He’s still one of those guys that if you create some space, and he’s able to operate in space, I think he’s pretty good.”

Stock down

Critics of the Saints' decision to retain Allen after the club went 16-18 combined during the coach's first two seasons. It's still early in Year 3, but it appears general manager Mickey Loomis' patience with his hand-picked successor to Sean Payton is bearing fruit.

Injuries

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore has remained out with hip and hamstring issues since leaving the Saints' Week 1 victory over the Panthers. Tight end Taysom Hill left the game in Dallas in the second half with a chest injury.

Latimore “wanted to play,” Allen said. “That was really my decision, and it really boiled down to — I didn’t want to risk what we think might be potentially a one-week deal, and him going out there and all of a sudden we turn one week into four weeks.”

Hill was taken to a hospital “for some extra evaluations,” Allen said. “I think it’s more precautionary, but we’ll see.”

Key number

3 — The number of consecutive games in which the Saints' offense, with Carr at QB, has produced 44 or more points, starting with their 48-17 victory over Atlanta to close out the 2023 regular season. The Saints did not have any defensive or special teams' scoring plays in those three games.

Next steps

The Saints play host on Sunday to the Philadelphia Eagles and a QB in Jalen Hurts who has given their defense a lot of trouble in the past.

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Brett Martel, The Associated Press