By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
The last time we saw Joe Burrow at the Superdome, he was casually puffing on a cigar after he and the LSU Tigers completed one of the best seasons in college football history. Sunday, the Big Easy will be enemy territory for players like Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase (another superstar in the Tigers’ 2019 national championship run).
Burrow leads the Cincinnati Bengals into the Dome to face the New Orleans Saints (noon, CBS) in a battle of teams with matching losing records (2-3) looking to establish momentum.
Taysom Hill saved the Saints with four touchdowns in a come-from-behind victory against Seattle last week in the Dome. While New Orleans will certainly look to feed the hot hand, in the many ways Hill can be productive, veteran Andy Dalton will make his third straight start behind center as Jameis Winston continues to heal.
“I feel really good about what we’ve been able to do and where we’re at,” Dalton told the media.
“I feel like we’ve found some rhythm in the offense, and we’re in a good place. There are obviously things that we could be doing better, but I feel good about where I’m at and what we’ve been able to do.”
In his two starts against Minnesota and Seattle, Dalton completed 36 of 52 passes for 423 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.
The Bengals have suffered from the Super Bowl hangover teams that lose the game have historically experienced. Burrow has still been vulnerable in the backfield. He’s been sacked 18 times and the Saints, behind pass rushers like Cameron Jordan, have no problem getting to quarterbacks.
In Philadelphia, the Dallas Cowboys will look to avoid digging a significant hole in the NFC East. The Eagles (5-0) are the lone undefeated team in the NFL and it appears as if they will catch the Cowboys (4-1) without Dak Prescott in a primetime matchup Sunday (7:20 p.m., NBC).
The former Haughton star hopes to return from his injured wrist this week, but he was listed as questionable on Dallas’ final injury report.
“He’s sore as you could expect. That’s the most he’s thrown to this point, but I think we’re in a good place,” Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy said.
Prescott’s final reps could make the determination.
Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush hasn’t posted mind-boggling individual statistics, but is 4-0 this season (5-0 overall) in relief of Prescott.
Saints vs. Bengals
Noon, CBS
Cowboys at Eagles
7:20 p.m., NBC
Contact Roy at roylangiii@yahoo.com
