TNF Week 12: New Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys | Saints win 30-27

Thursday Night Football Week 12 – New Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys Live on FOX

Week 12 – New Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys
When: Thursday, 4:15 PM ET, November 25, 2010
Venue: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX

Saints (7-3) vs Cowboys (3-7)

After an inconsistent first five weeks, the New Orleans Saints seem to be regaining their Super Bowl form and are getting healthier.

The Dallas Cowboys are also playing their best football of the season, but it’s followed a disastrous first two months. Playing in their first Thanksgiving Day game, the Saints hope to have Reggie Bush back as they go for their fourth straight win in a road matchup with the Cowboys, who are trying to move to 3-0 under interim coach Jason Garrett.

New Orleans (7-3) averaged an NFL-best 31.9 points during its 2009 Super Bowl season but got off to a shaky start this year, going 3-2 while averaging 19.8 points. The Saints, one game back of Atlanta in the NFC South, have since won four of five, averaging 29.8 points in those victories.

The Saints are hoping Bush returns Thursday after he sat out his eighth straight game Sunday with a broken bone in his right leg. Bush worked out on the field before the Seattle game, but New Orleans decided to make him a late scratch.

The Saints could also have safeties Malcolm Jenkins (neck) and Darren Sharper (hamstring) along with tight end Jeremy Shockey (rib) back for this game.

Last season, the Saints didn’t experience the same injury issues and won their first 13 games. The dream of a perfect season ended when Dallas handed them a 24-17 loss at the Superdome on Dec. 19.

The Cowboys’ victory over New Orleans, which ended a five-game skid in the series, spurred a season-ending three-game winning streak that lifted Dallas to the NFC East title. The Cowboys — winners of four straight on Thanksgiving Day — were expected to again contend for the division crown, but have instead been one of the league’s biggest disappointments.

Dallas (3-7), though, is starting to get things turned around under Garrett. After Wade Philips was fired and Garrett took over, the Cowboys snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating the New York Giants 33-20 on Nov. 14, then beat Detroit 35-19 on Sunday.

The offense is running smoothly behind quarterback Jon Kitna, who has more wins this season than injured starter Tony Romo. The defense is also looking solid after allowing an average of 35.8 points during the skid.

It might not be so easy Thursday. The Saints rank second in passing defense at 186.3 yards and have allowed just seven touchdowns through the air. (Source preview: ESPN)

You can watch Thursday Night Football live Week 12 Game New Orleans Saints vs Dallas Cowboys on FOX.

Next game for Thursday Night Football on Week 13 (December 2) is Houston Texans vs Philadelphia Eagles. Game Time at 8:20 PM ET. Watch out for it on NFLN.

UPDATE: New Orleans Saints beat the Cowboys, 30-27, on Thanksgiving Day.

1 2 3 4 Total New Orleans 17 3 3 7 30 FINAL Dallas 0 6 14 7 27

GAME RECAP

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints have recovered from blowing a 17-point lead by marching 89 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 1:55 left to pull out a 30-27 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.

Dallas kicker David Buehler nearly tied it with a 59-yard field goal in the final half-minute. The kick had plenty of distance, but fluttered wide left. Saints coach Sean Payton appeared to try calling timeout as the ball was snapped, but the officials didn’t give it to him.

The Saints (8-3) were up 17-0 after three series and 20-3 just before halftime. But the Cowboys scored on four straight possessions to get close, then went ahead 27-23 on Tashard Choice’s short touchdown run with 5:51 left.

Dallas (3-8) was headed to another score when Roy Williams took a pass toward to end zone, only to get stripped by New Orleans’ Malcolm Jenkins at the 11. That set up the winning rally.

The Cowboys lost for the first time under interim coach Jason Garrett, who had been 2-0. The Saints, playing on the holiday for the first time, won their fourth straight and fifth in six games. (Source)