Defense propels Saints to victory

NEW ORLEANS >> Vonn Bell’s forced fumble and two recoveries helped the Saints stifle a Dallas offense that had rolled through its first three games, and Wil Lutz kicked four field goals to lift New Orleans to a 12-10 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Dallas came in with the NFL’s third-ranked running game, averaging 179 yards. The Cowboys met much more resistance in the Superdome, where the Saints’ defensive front was bolstered by the return of defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins from an Achilles tendon tear that had sidelined him since January.

Dallas (3-1) finished with 45 yards on the ground.

Dak Prescott gave Dallas one last shot when he found Randall Cobb over the middle for 32 yards to the Dallas 48 and spiked the ball with 2 seconds left. But his desperation heave was rushed by a Saints blitz and safety Marcus Williams came down with an interception and New Orleans’ third forced turnover of the game.

Teddy Bridgewater made his second start in place of Drew Brees, who attended the game with a cast on his surgically repaired right thumb. Bridgewater was 23 of 30 for 193 yards and was intercepted once, albeit on an accurate pass that bounced off of Ted Ginn Jr.’s hands near midfield in the first quarter.

Ezekiel Elliot scored the game’s only touchdown in the third quarter to give Dallas a 10-9 lead, but finished with just 35 yards and his longest run was 6 yards. He was also stripped by Bell on a fourth-andshort run.

Prescott finished 22 of 33 for 223 yards.

While the Saints (3-1) could not get in the end zone, they sustained several productive drives with the help of receiver Michael Thomas, who had nine catches for 95 yards, and running back Alvin Kamara, who had 69 yards rushing and 20 yards receiving.