(Editor's Note: Who doesn't love lists? Throughout the year, 'High 5' will provide a top five list for many of the critical topics surrounding the Dallas Cowboys 2024 season.)
For the first time since 2021, the Dallas Cowboys (1-0) and New Orleans Saints (1-0) will square off. Both are coming off impressive maiden victories this season and are looking to continue the momentum, setting the stage for another memorable battle.
Sunday's matchup between Dallas and New Orleans may not be a division rivalry, but it showcases two historic franchises and two proud fan bases who are separated by only an 8-hour drive. The two teams are not common opponents in the current NFL landscape despite being the closest NFC teams in proximity to each other.
That doesn't mean there haven't been plenty of classic moments between the two in their 31 all-time meetings. The Cowboys lead the regular season series 18-13 and the two have never met in the playoffs, the Saints are the only NFC team without a postseason game against Dallas. This makes for plenty of classic regular season moments that make this rivalry special.
Let's take a trip down memory lane with the top five all-time Cowboys moments against the Saints:
5) Week 13 - 2021: Taysom Hill intercepted four-times in Cowboys win -The most recent meeting between the two NFC foes was a memorable one. Dallas had one of the league's worst defenses in 2020, but under the new leadership of Dan Quinn and showing improvement in 2021. This game may have been the one that put the Cowboys defense back on the map, with a season-high four interceptions. The 27-17 win included Trevon Diggs' league-leading ninth pick, and a 29-yard Carlos Watkins pick-six.
4) 1984: 21-point comeback in fourth quarter finished in OT -Dallas entered the fourth quarter down 27-6 after Dennis Winston's 43-yard pick-six continued the New Orleans route. But the Cowboys began chipping away early in the final frame starting with a blocked end that led to a Tony Dorsett touchdown less than two minutes in. Then a Mike Renfro touchdown grab with less than four minutes remaining made it a one-score game again. The Saints had the football, inside their own five-yard line when Randy White rushed off the edge, forcing a Ken Stabler fumble in the endzone, recovered by Jim Jeffcoat to tie the game at 27 with under three to play. After trading possessions in overtime, Dallas would be the first one to convert with a 41-yard Rafael Septien field goal to win it, 30-27.
3) 1983: Cowboys rally with game-winning safety - One of the craziest finishes in Cowboys history. Beginning the fourth quarter tied at 13, a one-yard Wayne Wilson touchdown run would give New Orleans a 20-13 lead. Dallas stalled out on offense and the Saints set up for a field goal to make it a two-score game mid-way through the quarter. Instead, the kick was blocked by Ed "Too Tall" Jones and returned by Ron Fellows 62 yards for a touchdown, bringing the Cowboys within one. With a tie game looming, the Saints blocked the PAT, keeping the score at 20-19. Dallas struggled to find the end zone offensively as the two traded drives. With under two-minutes to play, the Cowboys had just thrown an interception, but New Orleans held possession in the shadow of their own goal line. Safety Anthony Dickerson blitzed the Saints front, Stabler couldn't get away and was taken down in his own endzone for the safety. A monumental play, giving Dallas a 21-20 win.
2) 1994: Larry Allen Chases down Saints LB to prevent pick-six- Still one of the greatest plays in NFL history. Late in the first half, Dallas was leading 7-0 when Troy Aikman threw an interception right to Saints linebacker Darion Conner, who took off down the left sideline and was seemingly headed straight to the end zone. That was until rookie offensive lineman Larry Allen chased down Conner, who was 75-pounds lighter, to prevent the pick-six. Dallas would win the game, 24-16 and Allen's stop lives on in NFL lore forever.
1) 2009: D-Ware lifts Cowboys past undefeated Saints -On December 19, 2009, the 8-5 Cowboys traveled to New Orleans for a matchup with the 13-0 Saints, a team they last defeated 15-years prior, to the day. While it appeared to be a mismatch on paper, the Cowboys got a huge lift before the game when DeMarcus Ware suited up to play, just six days after suffering a scary neck injury that had the rest of his season and even career in question when he was being carted away on a stretcher. Ware got an early sack on Brees and the Cowboys jumped out to a 24-3 advantage on the road. Miles Austin and Marion Barber each had significant contributions, allowing the defense some cushion to hold off Drew Brees and the charging Saints. New Orleans held possession with a chance to tie or take the lead, but another D-Ware strip sack was recovered by Jay Ratliff with six-seconds left to seal the 24-17 upset. The Saints eventually went on to win their first-ever Super Bowl but the Cowboys made sure it wasn't a perfect season.
