5 matchups to watch that’ll decide Week 2

The New Orleans Saints aim to start 2-0 for the second year in a row. The Saints put on a good show for the hometown fans in the season opener. After dominating the Carolina Panthers, the team hits the road to face the Dallas Cowboys.

This will be a much bigger test for the team. This isn’t to write off what they did against Carolina. Did anyone expect the Saints to win in Week 1 like that? No. That performance does still mean something, but a win here would send a statement through the NFL.

Carolina doesn’t have a Micah Parsons, Ceedee Lamb or Dak Prescott. The Saints have to deal with these players on Sunday. This means Alontae Taylor, Pauslon Adebo and Trevor Penning have to be at the top of their games.

Parsons and Lamb make up two of the biggest matchups in the game. If the Cowboys win both of those battles, that could be the death blow for New Orleans.

These are the five biggest matchups to watch in Week 2:

Cowboys LDE Micah Parsons vs. Saints RT Trevor Penning

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This may the single most consequential matchup of the game. Parson primarily rushes against the right tackle. Last year, he rushed the passer from that side on 67.9% of passing downs, and that number dropped to just 56% in Week 1. The Saints should send help in obvious passing situations. Run blocking is where Penning could get the best of Parsons. His physicality should bode well in this element.

Saints nickel CB Alontae Taylor vs. Cowboys slot WR CeeDee Lamb

Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) reacts to sacking Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

CeeDee Lamb spends more time in the slot than outside; he ran 20 of his 29 routes there in Week 1. Unless Marshon Lattimore is healthy and the Saints want him shadowing Lamb, Taylor will draw this assignment more frequently than anyone else in man coverage. The last time Taylor had to go toe-to-toe with an elite receiver was against Davante Adams as a rookie. Here’s to hoping for a repeat.

Saints OC Klint Kubiak vs. Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer

Jul 30, 2024; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer during training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Klint Kubiak’s…