Drew Brees: Brees (shoulder) expected to play on Sunday

The Saints will have their leader Drew Brees back but so far this season that has not been enough. But the Boys should bounce back tonight against a Saints’ offense that has looked directionless without Jimmy Graham.

One year ago, Jairus Byrd tore his lateral meniscus during a mid-week practice and was declared out for the 2014 season.

As expected, Brees will return from a one-game absence to face a Dallas defense that was shredded by the Falcons in Week 3.

The Dallas Cowboys have won 10 consecutive road games dating to the 2013 game at Washington.

This was not the first time that the Saints’ losing games had inspired him to do insane stuff.

The Cowboys’ run defense also pulled a no-show in this game as Atlanta’s backup running back Devonta Freeman carried the ball 31 times for 141 yards and three touchdowns.

DraftKings has your shot to play for FREE in the $1 Million Fantasy Football Contest THIS SUNDAY! Whatever New Orleans decides, the Saints have to find a way to fix their tight end problem, an issue their defenders seem quietly confident has been addressed.

Many might forget that it was Philadelphia’s 27-24 loss at Washington in Week 16 last December that snuffed out the last of the Eagles’ once-robust playoff hopes. In those 6 games the Saints hold a combined turnover margin of minus 10.

For Saints fans, this is one of the game’s most pressing issues. Outside their division, Atlanta was 1-9 on the season.

“Brandon Weeden has never thrown for more than two touchdowns in a game”, wrote Marc Sessler in an article that appeared on the league’s official site Friday. Neither unit works on an island.

Another surprise was how quickly the defense melted down in this game. “The only thing you can control is, whenever you do get drafted, go out and take advantage of whatever opportunity you have”.

So much for having this team figured out.

The Cowboys had a 34:45 to 25:15 advantage in time of possession, and while Brees still threw for 340 yards, much of it came after Dallas had built a 24-3 lead.

Case in point: the Saints are 11-2 (at home) since 2013 when totaling more yardage than their opponent.

This marks the third straight year the Cowboys-Saints matchup has been featured on “SNF”.

The 2015 season has already seen the Saints lose to two division opponents.

The Saints, however, saw Murphy’s potential as a returner, and weren’t about to give up on him after a couple of muffs – both of which Murphy recovered – in the past two games.