Fansided

Each NFL team’s most important game in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

Chicago Bears outside linebackers Khalil Mack (52) and Leonard Floyd (94) sack Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) on December 16, 2018, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
Chicago Bears outside linebackers Khalil Mack (52) and Leonard Floyd (94) sack Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) on December 16, 2018, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 29: Dallas Cowboys Running Back Ezekiel Elliott (21) rushes during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints on November 29, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 29: Dallas Cowboys Running Back Ezekiel Elliott (21) rushes during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints on November 29, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys: Week 4 at New Orleans Saints

It was a game that put the Dallas Cowboys’ defense on the map. The red-hot New Orleans Saints entered a late November clash with Jason Garrett’s club winners of 10 consecutive games dating back to the second week of 2018. The eventual NFC South champions were averaging a brisk 37.2 points per game entering this Thursday night clash and in six of 11 outings, Sean Payton’s squad had totaled 40-plus points.

But the Cowboys’ defense rose up, limited the Saints to 176 total yards and handed Drew Brees and company a 13-10 setback. It was the fourth straight win for a team that would go onto win the NFC East that season. Garrett’s club would overcome a 3-5 start to win seven of its final eight games and capture its third division title in five years.

This offseason, Dallas appears to have overcome some issues regarding its defensive line (see Randy Gregory and David Irving) and added the likes of Christian Covington and Kerry Hyder. The team also swung a trade for end Robert Quinn and signed safety George Iloka. With emerging linebackers Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch and pass-rushing stud Demarcus Lawrence, could this be the best defense in the league in 2019?

In any case, the Cowboys head to the Superdome for this prime time affair with the Saints. So can Garrett’s team make another defensive statement against the NFC’s top playoff seed in ‘18?

Next: Denver Broncos

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