ARLINGTON, Texas (105.3 The Fan) -- The Dallas Cowboys defense dominated Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints explosive offense in their 13-10 win Thursday night at AT&T Stadium.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was elated following the game, saying he believes the defensive performance could fuel them for the rest of the season.
"I must say the defense played beyond my expectations. I think they played like a championship defense," Jones said. "I was walking back with Sean Lee, and he's a guy that's invested so much in helping those young linebackers. He's on his way back, and he's going to be outstanding. I really think this bunch is going to take this and really be a different team over the next four ball games."
The Saints were shut out in the first half for the first time in their last 71 games, ending the longest streak in the NFL. In addition, Brees opened the game with four straight incompletions, something he'd never done before.
Jones was asked how important it is to have a defense that can win games.
"I've always really thought that you have to be sound on defense. In the games where two teams are really slugging it out, I think it makes a difference," Jones said. "I'm just so impressed because I have such respect for Brees and the system they are in."
Brees had his fewest yards through the air in the first half (39) since joining the Saints in 2006, and couldn't bring his team back on their final drive after a Dak Prescott fumble gave them new life.
Instead, Brees was intercepted, for just the third time this season, by Jourdan Lewis, giving the Cowboys a chance to run out the clock from the New Orleans 1-yard line after a pass interference penalty in the end zone.
"He's a playmaker ... he's got the speed ... he's really got instincts. We tried to get him where he could make some plays. He had some times maybe where he was wondering where it was. But he's the kind of guy that can make a play like that," Jones said of Lewis.
Lewis said of the interception, the second of his career and his first since week two of 2017, "Great feeling. Been a long time coming. Just staying focused and staying humble like coach Richard said, believe in yourself and the opportunity will come."
Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, who had fired up his team and the Saints with some strong comments earlier in the week, was also pleased with how well he and his teammates played against an elite offense.
"If you capitalize on a team early, you've got to step on their throats like I said and don't let them back up. Which we did today and we held them to 10 points," Lawrence said. "I'm gald we had this battle to see what a real championship team looks like. We've got to move forward and go on to the next one."
With AP
