Dallas offense vs. New Orleans defense

	COWBOYS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	9
	Pass	11
	Tot. Yds.	7
	Scoring	5
	Int's allowed	22
	Sacks allowed	31
	SAINTS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	14
	vs. Pass	20
	Total yds. allowed	19
	# of Ints.	25
	# of Sacks	35
	Turnover differential	-3

The Cowboys have shown an ability to overcome all sorts of obstacles on the offensive side of the ball this season, but when QB Troy Aikman is not on top of his game, the Dallas offense really struggles. Last Sunday against the Jets, Aikman had a terrible day, going 12-for-28 for 158 yards, with only one touchdown and two interceptions. This, against a Jet defense that is one of the worst in the league at pressuring the quarterback.

Coach Chan Gailey's experiment of playing Deion Sanders at WR was a non-factor last week against New York, as Sanders finished the game without a catch. Against New Orleans on Friday, expect the Cowboys to get back to the basics with RB Emmitt Smith, whose health is improving each week. Last week, Smith had 19 carries for 108 yards against the Jets, and will likely see more carries in a game that the Cowboys must win.

Dallas will look to test the middle of a New Orleans defense that is starting MLB Phil Clarke, who was on the practice squad earlier in the season, and LDT Austin Robbins, who started his first game last weekend at Baltimore. Aikman should again look to utilize his TEs because of Dallas' lack of a solid possession receiver on underneath routes.

New Orleans needs to bounce back after taking a beating last Sunday in Baltimore. The Saints' defense didn't play that poorly, but were betrayed by an offense that could muster only eight first downs and 11 rushing yards.

One weakness of the New Orleans' defense this season has been the consistency of the team's corners. RDC Fred Weary was burned repeatedly by Quadry Ismael last weekend, and gets to face Ismael's older brother this week. Weary has problems turning his hips and running with faster receivers, so look for Dallas to test him early with Ismael.

RDT La'Roi Glover had an unbelievable game last week against the Ravens, with 11 tackles and three sacks. Glover will find the going much tougher this week against Dallas LOG Solomon Page and OC Mark Stepnoski.

As a team, the Saints need to gang up on the Dallas running game and make Smith earn his yards. Doing so will expose the secondary to some single coverage situations, so look for defensive coordinator Zaven Yaralian to line up LDC Ashley Ambrose against Ismael. The Saints will have a better chance containing Ismael this way, and will also be able to put more pressure on Aikman using linebackers and safeties.

Without an effective Williams, Dallas' linebackers will play well off the line of scrimmage, taking away the underneath routes of TE Cam Cleeland, one of the Saints' most potent offensive weapons. Cleeland is a nice combination of size and speed, and if he is played close to the line of scrimmage by Dallas' linebackers, he is capable of quickly getting separation and making some big gains.

If Williams is able to go, look for the Saints to establish the run between the tackles to neutralize Dallas' speedy linebackers, who pursue well sideline-to-sideline. LOT Willie Roaf will be matched-up against Dallas RDE Kavika Pittman, who is quick but undersized and will be at a significant disadvantage against Roaf, particularly in running situations.

Coach Mike Ditka has hinted that he might go with inexperienced rookie QB Jake Dellahome. If such is the case, expect an anemic New Orleans' offense to get even worse.

Dallas' defense has been slowed by injuries for most of the season. The defensive line, which in years past has been a point of strength for the Cowboys, has been shuffled around to compensate for a rash of injuries. Leon Lett, who has been a Pro-Bowl defensive tackle, is now playing LDE, and DE Kavika Pittman, who was a pass rush-specialist, has been forced to play more frequently against the run because rookie RDE Ebeneezer Ekuban has been ineffective in running situations.

The Dallas secondary, anchored by RDC Deion Sanders, was picked apart last week by Jets QB Ray Lucas. Most of the secondary's problems cannot be attributed to Sanders, but rather to the lack of a healthy, consistent corner on the other side of the field. Kevin Smith, the team's regular starter at LDC, was back in the line-up this week, but has been slowed by a nagging hamstring injury, and it showed against the Jets. Smith is questionable for this week's game, and if he plays, look for the Saints to test him early with either WR Keith Poole or WR Eddie Kennison, both of whom have deep speed to stretch a defense.