ARLINGTON, Texas -- Even the most diehard Cowboys fan couldn't have predicted Cowboys 38, Saints 17.
Not with the Saints' potent offense and the Cowboys' suspect defense. Not with the way the Saints had won eight of the last meetings with the Cowboys.
Sure, the Cowboys had won two in a row and were looking much better than they did in a dreadful preseason. A win at home was a possibility, but this was a domination by Dallas, which led 31-3 early in the second half.
Surprises like this one are often built on lots of little surprises. The following is a list of Things We Didn't Expect To See in Cowboys 38, Saints 17:
Jason Garrett out-coaches Sean Payton
Payton, the Saints' coach, is famous for calling an onside kick in the Super Bowl. This wasn't the Super Bowl.
With seven minutes to go and trailing by 14, the Saints tried a fake punt fourth-and-nine from their own 41. The Cowboys were ready for it and Saints punter Thomas Morstead was forced to eat the ball for a two-yard loss.
Credit the Cowboys for having their punt-safety team in for a situation. But there are going to be a lot of questions asked of Payton about calling that fake punt. If you're going to go for it, why take the ball out of Drew Brees' hands?
A healthy Dallas defense
Rolando McClain, Henry Melton and Anthony Spencer were all listed as questionable going into Sunday's game, but all three contributed to an impressive defensive effort.
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McClain didn't practice until Friday, and only on a limited basis. Yet he started at linebacker and came up with a big forced fumble on Saints tight end Jimmy Graham.
Melton also didn't practice until Friday, while Spencer, who has had a year-long recovery from micro-fracture knee surgery, was limited Wednesday and Thursday and didn't practice Friday. Yet both were active Sunday, with Melton getting a sack and Spencer credited with three tackles and a QB hurry.
Cowboys get off to a quick start
The typically sluggish Cowboys took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 12 plays for a touchdown.
Then they added a 51-yard field goal by Dan Bailey, a 15-yard TD run by DeMarco Murray and another TD just before halftime. Instead of falling behind by three touchdowns early, as they did against the 49ers and Rams, the Cowboys led 24-0 before the Saints' offense could get going.
Morris Claiborne starts, gets hurt
Claiborne stormed out of the Cowboys' practice facility and skipped a practice Tuesday after being told he would lose his starting job at cornerback to Orlando Scandrick.
On Sunday, there was Claiborne on the field for the first play by the Cowboys' defense. The Cowboys opened the game in their nickel package and both Claiborne and Scandrick were on the field at the start.
Claiborne later suffered an apparently serious knee injury. For all the bad publicity his tantrum brought him, Claiborne may have bigger concerns than getting back into the starting lineup.
Sterling Moore came up big
Claiborne's injury allowed Moore to shine in his place. Many fans had clamored for Moore to be placed above Claiborne in the defensive back rotation, and he helped his cause with another active game.
Moore was credited with three tackles and two passes defended, including a big-time breakup of a pass to tight end Jimmy Graham, one of the Saints' top weapons.
Scandrick also recovered a fumble and would have scored a touchdown if the officials hadn't blown the play dead for a review.
Saints deny Dez Bryant; offense rolls anyway
The Saints were determined to keep the Cowboys' big-play receiver from beating them. Bryant didn't get his first pass thrown to him until there was 7:44 left in the first half.
That didn't stop the Cowboys from the moving the ball. Nine Cowboys not named Dez Bryant caught passes Sunday as quarterback Tony Romo, who was 22-of-29, spread the ball around.
Bryant wound up catching three passes, including a late touchdown.
Breakout game for Terrance Williams
All the attention on Bryant gave Terrance Williams an opportunity for a breakout game. Williams was the Cowboys' leading receiver with six catches (on seven targets) for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
He caught the Cowboys' first touchdown by floating across the back of the end zone, then caught the 23-yard score that put them up 24-0 at halftime.
Maybe everyone should take Wednesdays off
Romo has started skipping practice on Wednesdays to keep from overworking his surgically repaired back. It's a prescription for success so far.
Not only did Romo pass for 262 yards and three touchdowns (and no interceptions), he scrambled 21 yards for key first down in the third quarter.
Looks like Hump Day is a good Off Day for Romo.
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
