The New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys will face off in Week 3 of the NFL preseason tonight. Kickoff is set for in 8:00 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will broadcast live on ESPN App.
The Cowboys are 58% favorites to win outright and the Saints are 42% underdogs on Kalshi. The Cowboys are favored by -2.5 on the spread with the over/under set at 38.5.
Let's get into my Saints vs Cowboys predictions for Friday, August 28.
Saints vs Cowboys Prediction
- Saints vs Cowboys pick: Cowboys 55%
My Saints vs Cowboys pick is on Dallas to win. As always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Saints vs Cowboys Odds
Saints vs Cowboys NFL Preseason Preview
New Orleans Saints Betting Preview
Though New Orleans was very busy this past offseason, it certainly has not played out that way throughout the preseason thus far following consecutive blowout losses.
After posting a 6-11 record in head coach Kellen Moore’s first season in New Orleans, the Saints' offseason strategy largely focused on acquiring some offensive weapons to surround QB Tyler Shough.
In one of the biggest moves of the entire offseason, New Orleans signed former Jaguars RB Travis Etienne to a four-year $48 million contract to play alongside longtime Saints’ RB Alvin Kamara in what could be a very explosive backfield.
New Orleans also secured WR Chris Olave on a massive contract extension worth up to $124 million over four years, whilst also selecting WR Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State with the 8th overall pick in the April NFL Draft.
The Saints also drafted North Dakota State product WR Bryce Lance in the fourth round, aiming to surround Shough with even more playmakers to line up opposite Olave and Tyson.
Former Broncos TE Noah Fant, who was brought in on a two-year $6.2 million deal, should be quite effective in this Saints offense both as a receiver and in a blocking capacity.
Fant was one of several moves aimed at protecting New Orleans’ young QB, with the Saints’ front office also bringing in former Bills Guard Davis Edward on a four-year deal with $45 million guaranteed, in addition to a substantial signing bonus.
On the defensive side of the football, the Saints brought in LB Kaden Elliss from Atlanta, who should be a solid replacement for the departure of OLB Demario Davis, who signed with the New York Jets.
The Saints also brought in four-year veteran QB Zach Wilson to back up Shough, with the 2021 No. 2 pick playing several series in the team’s first preseason loss to Jacksonville.
New Orleans looked far worse in its second matchup, when it was blown out of the water by a final score of 34-0 to the LA Rams.
The Saints head into their final preseason contest as a 45% underdog to prevail on Kalshi.
Dallas Cowboys Betting Preview
The Cowboys were extremely active during the 2026 NFL offseason. They completely overhauled their defensive roster and coaching staff under second-year HC Brian Schottenheimer, adding new DC Christian Parker.
Parker was instrumental in the club's NFL Draft strategy after Dallas' defense ranked among the worst in the entire NFL in 2025.
The Cowboys secondary was horrific last season, very susceptible to deep passes, with speedy receivers often sneaking behind their safeties.
Caleb Downs, Dallas’ 11th overall pick out of Ohio State could be a phenomenal selection. He was a huge part of the Buckeyes’ 2024 championship team and was the recipient of the 2025 Lott Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award.
Downs is set to play alongside safety Jalen Thompson, who was brought in on a three-year deal worth up to $33 million, and also Cobie Durant, who signed a one-year contract.
The Cowboys also acquired EDGE rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers for a fourth-round draft pick in 2027 to add further support to last season’s poor defensive effort.
These were just several additions among many more, all highlighting the team’s need to improve on the defensive side of the football, with the Cowboys’ front office also agreeing to deals with DTs Otito Ogbonnia and Jonathan Bullard to improve the defensive line.
While the Cowboys were very active this past offseason improving their defensive unit, the team’s offensive core is largely the same, with Dak Prescott's premier targets in WRs CeeDee Lamb and Georgia Pickens returning, with former-Broncos RB Javonte Williams also set to resume his heavy workload as RB1.
In its first two preseason matchups, the Cowboys' backup units have looked phenomenal, with Schottenheimer’s bunch winning both games by double digits.
Former Patriots QB Joe Milton III has looked very impressive throughout Dallas’ preseason schedule thus far and appears to have solidified his role as Dak Prescott’s backup QB over Sam Howell.
Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue has seen a ton of reps as well and should complement Williams quite well in the team’s backfield throughout the regular season.
Saints vs Cowboys Prediction, Trade Analysis
Though it can be very misleading to jump to definitive conclusions in the NFL’s preseason, which features an array of players who have never seen the field in a professional capacity, I remain very concerned about how poorly New Orleans has played in each of its first two contests.
On the other hand, Dallas has looked remarkable, with its backup units looking very poised on both sides of the football.
In what will be the Cowboys' first preseason game at AT&T Stadium, I'm inclined to lay the juice on Dallas’ moneyline, given the home-field advantage and run of form.
Pick: Cowboys 55%
