(New Orleans) CeeDee Lamb amassed 122 yards from the line of scrimmage, Tony Pollard hit a 58-yard touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys defeated the New Orleans Saints 27-17 on Thursday night.
The Cowboys intercepted three assists from quarterback Taysom Hill in the final seven minutes of the game, including an interception return for a touchdown from defensive tackle Carlos Watkins.
The Saints gave Hill a first start as a quarterback this season, but he was unable to stop his team’s losing streak, which now stands at five.
Hill was efficient at times, gaining 264 yards on the air and 101 yards on the rush. He threw two touchdown passes, but was also the victim of four interceptions.
“He played with a lot of heart and a lot of courage,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said of Hill.
Dak Prescott had 238 aerial yards, throwing a touchdown pass and an interception. The Cowboys (8-4) were deprived of the services of head coach Mike McCarthy and five assistants due to COVID-19. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn took the reins of the team.
“I finally got to see his emotions on the sidelines,” Cowboys rookie linebacker Micah Parsons said of Quinn. It was good to see him smile and it was good to have another win on our record. I’m sure Mike is smiling in his hotel room right now. ”
Prescott threw an interception at Marshon Lattimore midway through the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys responded with a turnaround. Jourdan Lewis slapped Hill’s arm at the same time he released his pass and Damontae Kazee intercepted the ball.
It was the first of three late-game interceptions for the Cowboys. Travon Diggs achieved his ninth theft of the campaign, an NFL-high, and Watkins went on to secure his interception.
” It is very frustrating. It’s not like us, Hill said. This is my fifth year in the NFL and I’ve never experienced anything like it since playing for the Saints. ”
Deonte Harris turned a short pass into a 70-yard major for the Saints (5-7), who failed to recover a short-kick attempt.
The game was close in the third quarter, when Pollard gave the Cowboys a 20-10 lead when he cleared a tackle in the backfield before going the distance into the end zone.
The New Orleans troops were looking to close the gap early in the fourth quarter. Parsons curbed the threat, however, by netting a sack at Hill’s expense.
It was the 10e Parsons’ campaign bag, which was selected at 12e rank in most recent NFL Draft.
The Saints had a slow start to the game on their backhand streak and it was the same story that game. Their first scoring opportunity came in their second offensive streak, but Brett Maher missed a 56-yard field goal attempt.
The Cowboys opened the scoring on their third possession. Prescott threw a 41-yard pass to Amari Cooper and Lamb then caught a side to run 33 yards and stop at the goal gate. Prescott joined Michael Gallup, who kept his feet in the end zone for a major.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey helped the Saints tie the game with a 24-yard reception for a major in the second quarter, but the home side never led.