NEW ORLEANS – The Dallas Cowboys offense that rolled through its first three games hit a roadblock.
Vonn Bell's forced fumble and two recoveries helped the Saints stifle Dak Prescott and company, and Wil Lutz kicked four field goals to lift New Orleans to a 12-10 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night.
Dallas came in with the NFL's third-ranked running game, averaging 179 yards, and had scored no fewer than 31 points in a game. The Cowboys met much more resistance in the Superdome, where the Saints defensive front was bolstered by the return of defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins from an Achilles' tendon tear that had sidelined him since January.
Dallas managed only 45 yards on the ground.
"Hats off to the defense," said New Orleans quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who improved to 2-0 as the starter in place of injured record-setter Drew Brees. "In this league we know how hard it is to win football games and no one said it had to be pretty."
Prescott gave Dallas one last shot when he found Randall Cobb over the middle for 32 yards to the Cowboys 48-yard line and spiked the ball with two seconds left. But his desperation heave was rushed by blitzing rookie defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and safety Marcus Williams came down with an interception for New Orleans' third forced turnover of the game.
This victory kept the Saints (3-1) atop the NFC South and sent a message that they are not about to let Brees' estimated six-week absence sink their playoff hopes.
Ezekiel Elliott scored the game's only touchdown in the third quarter to give Dallas (3-1) a 10-9 lead, but he finished with only 35 yards. He was also stripped by Bell on a fourth-and-short run.
