Dallas Cowboys (1-0 this exhibition season) -3, o/u 35 vs. New Orleans Saints (1-0), 8 p.m. Eastern Monday, ESPN
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff Writer Darin
The New Orleans Saints, who picked their new head coach from off the Dallas Cowboys’ staff this off-season, will take on Bill Parcell’s Pokes in an NFL exhibition game Monday night at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana.
After the disaster that was the 2005 season, New Orleans fired coach Jim Haslett and replaced him with Sean Payton, who served on Parcells’ offensive staff for the last three seasons in Dallas.
The Cowboys beat the Seattle Seahawks in the exhibition opener for both teams 13-3 in Seattle eight days ago. Dallas was quarterbacked by three-year back-up Tony Roma, who played the entire game and completed 19 of 25 pass attempts for 235 yards. The Cowboys also rushed for 101 yards, but only at a 3.1 yards per carry clip. The defense, however, which ranked 10th in the NFL overall last season, held the Seahawks to 63 rushing yards.
Roma may have played the whole game last weekend, but Drew Bledsoe is expected to start Monday night. How much he’ll play, though, is still uncertain.
One Dallas player who won’t see action Monday night remains WR Terrell Owens, who’s been bothered by a sore hamstring during training camp.
New Orleans opened its exhibition season with a 19-16 win at Tennessee nine days ago. The Saints racked up 401 yards of offense, 128 of which came on the ground. The defense, however, allowed 124 rushing yards.
New Orleans will celebrate the return of RB Deuce McAllister Monday night. McAllister is coming off knee surgery, and hasn’t played since Week 5 of last season. He’s expected to play about a quarter, and may see some action alongside top draft pick Reggie Bush.
Another newcomer to the Saints, QB Drew Brees, is expected to play most of the first half Monday night. And New Orleans will also have back WR Donte Stallworth, who’s just coming back from off-season shoulder surgery.
Brees is backed up by Todd Bouman (5-8, 77 yards last week vs. Tennessee) and ex-Arena Leaguer Jason Fife.
These two teams have not met on the field since December of 2004, when the Saints beat the Cowboys 27-13.
New Orleans ranked 31st in the NFL last season by scoring just 14.7 points per game.
Dallas kicker Mike Vanderjagt is listed as questionable for Monday’s game with a bad ankle, and WR Terry Glenn is doubtful with a foot injury.
The Cowboys are 9-4 both straight up and against the spread in pre-season games under Parcells.
This game opened with Dallas about a 1 ½-point favorite, with an over/under of 36. But the Cowboys have been bet up to 3-point chalk at many places, and the total has dropped to 35.
