Sizzling Saints visit improving Cowboys

The New Orleans Saints (10-1) have won a league-best 10 consecutive games.

The Dallas Cowboys (6-5) have climbed back to the top of the NFC East with three consecutive victories, and owner Jerry Jones has called the Thursday night game against the Saints the Cowboys' "Super Bowl."

Are you ready some football?

Quarterback Drew Brees, in his 18th NFL season, certainly is as he attempts to keep the Saints' momentum rolling.

"I can't say it's no big deal, I mean (to) go back to the home state," said Brees, a native of Austin. "That's where I'm from. I remember waking up every Sunday morning watching the Cowboys after church, so that was a big deal growing up, and that was obviously a heyday for them and with (Troy) Aikman and the 'Boys. So yeah there's a little something to it."

The Saints need to keep winning to capture the significant prize they are seeking -- the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They are tied with the Los Angeles Rams at 10-1 but hold the tiebreaker due to their 45-35 head-to-head victory on Nov. 4.

New Orleans leads the league in scoring at 37.2 points per game, which is a full three points per game higher than the franchise single-season record set in 2011. Brees has completed a league-high 76.4 percent of his passes and thrown for 29 touchdowns against two interceptions.

Running back Alvin Kamara has rolled up 1,225 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in the first 11 games, and wide receiver Michael Thomas (86 receptions) is second in the NFL in catches, trailing only Minnesota's Adam Thielen (93).

The Saints have averaged 151 rushing yards and have scored 17 rushing touchdowns in their past nine games.

"Yeah, they've won 10 games in a row," Dallas coach Jason Garrett said. "It's hard to do that in the NFL. In all three phases of their team ... their guys show up, they've got playmakers all throughout their team, they know how to use them and they're just playing at an extremely high level."

The Cowboys have righted their ship after a 3-5 start, improving behind running back Ezekiel Elliott, who has rushed for 394 yards on 68 attempts and three touchdowns in the three victories. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has been helped by the midseason trade acquisition of wide receiver Amari Cooper, who has 349 receiving yards in four games with the Cowboys.

The Dallas defense is allowing just 19.4 points a game.

Saints safety Kurt Coleman said Cooper has been significant to the Cowboys' offense.

"They wanted a No. 1 wide receiver because he opens up the offense," Coleman said. "You can't crowd the box. Amari is making big plays and keeping the box light."

--Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)