–The Saints can clinch their second consecutive NFC South championship as soon as this weekend. It could happen before they ever face the only team that can still catch them – second-place Carolina (6-5). Any combination of Saints wins and Panthers losses totaling two will clinch the title for New Orleans, so a Saints win Thursday and a Panthers loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday would do it. New Orleans and Carolina meet twice in the final three weeks.
–This game marks the start of three consecutive road games for the Saints. They visit Tampa Bay and Carolina before returning home for their last two regular-season games.
BY THE NUMBERS: 73.2 – The number of rushing yards the Saints allow on average. They’ll face one of their strongest tests of the season with Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys, who rank fifth in the league in rushing yards per game (134.5).