BUMPS AND BRUISES
Only Saints cornerback Jabri Greer has been ruled out of Saturday night’s game.
Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis did not practice again on Friday with a sore knee, and although he did not practice all week he is one of seven players listed as questionable on the Saints official injury report.
A total of seven players officially listed as questionable on the Saints’ injury report and other than Ellis, all practiced ona limited basis on Friday. TE Jeremy Shockey (toe), CB Tracy Porter (knee), LB Scott Fujita (knee), LB Marvin Mitchell (hamstring), DE Bobby McCray (back) and S Usama Young (hip).
SAINTS AND COWBOYS READY FOR BATTLE
The Saints look to remain unbeaten as they host the Cowboys Saturday night in the Superdome in what undoubtedly will be a juiced up superdome. For the Saints, it’s simple, they’re chasing History in an undefeated season, more immediately home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
As for the 8-5 cowboys , they’re a game back of Philadelphia in the NFC East and must win to keep hopes of post season play alive, “This is a good team that’s coming in off a couple of tough loses. A team that needs to win. A team that is very talented,” says Saints head coach Sean Payton.
It’s basically all the right ingredients for a great plate of football in the big easy. “We’ve looked at that game on the schedule for a long time, and just been looking forward to it. We’re’ hoping that we’d be in the position that we are now going into it,” says quarterback Drew Brees. “13-0, they’re fighting for a playoff spot and still kind of fighting for a division championship themselves, so they have a lot to play for, we have a lot to play for, it should be a great game.”
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has heard it all week about the slim odds the Cowboys have at winning Saturday night, and Romo doesn’t care. “They’re a very, very, very good football team obiviously but they’re even better at home, and that really goes without saying for a lot of teams but this team really raises their level at home,” says the Cowboys signal caller. “You look at their point production at home and what they give up, they’re averaging almost a 14 point victory at home. I still think our defense is going to play one heck of a game this weekend. Obviously they have a great challenge ahead of them, but you have to believe in them to get stops. If I’m thinking in the back of my mind that the Saints are going to score seven points every time they touch the ball, you’re probably not going to play your best game.”
Brees’s is hoping the Who Dat nation brings their “A” game, “We like to think that it just gets a little bit louder every time.”
Romo expects the ‘Boys to bring theirs. “I promise you our team, we have blinders on as far going out there committed to our approach this week working hard and coming out with a game plan that we feel will give us a great opportunity to play our best game, and as good as they are we feel as though if we play really well we have a great chance to beat them.”
HOW I SEE IT
The storylines heading into the game are great. Indianapolis is two wins away from perfection following their win over Jacksonville on Thursday. The Saints have their last real big test in chasing history themselves, but more importantly they must continue to add “W’s” as Minnesota is right there in the mix for home field throughout the playoffs at 11-2.
Buzzards are circling the Cowboys facility and the fate of head coach Wade Phillips hangs in the balance of how his team finishes this season. Dallas hasn’t won a playoff game in 12 years, and a loss against the Saints would put them in jeopardy to play this post season.
So it goes without saying both teams have a lot riding on this game. The Saints have some bumps and bruises, perhaps non bigger then defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis who’s dealing with a sore knee. Dallas has to establish the running game, and in the last two weeks the Redskins and Falcons have moved the ball on the ground against the Saints defense. Another area that Washington and Atlanta attacked was the middle of the field, and Cowboys tight end Jason Whitten is one of the best in the game and one would expect Romo to be looking for his Pro Bowler often in the game.
Defensively, Dallas is okay up front, very vulnerable in the secondary. Defensive end DeMarcus Ware will be a game time decision following a sprained neck injury and his ability to play or not will effect the Cowboys pass rush. I see the Saints being able to move the ball and score. I also see Dallas able to move the ball, the question is will they be able to improve on their recent red zone struggles.
Gut feeling, it’ll be a high scoring game with the Saints pulling it out in the end. 34-31 Saints as they improve to 14-0.
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