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New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys: 5 Players to watch in Week 13

By Rebecca Mills

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 04: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 4, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 04: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 4, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 14: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

5. Leighton Vander Esch

If there’s one player that Cowboys fans can’t stop talking about, it’s rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Vander Esch was the team’s 2018 first-round pick after many predicted the team would take a wide receiver. As much as the offense has struggled, drafting Vander Esch was a great move as he’s already made a huge impact on the previously stagnant defense.

Looking at his stats thus far, Vander Esch is just shy of 100 tackles for the season, including notching nine last week. Additionally, he’s nabbed two interceptions, one against the Eagles and the other against the Falcons. Unlike his previous matchups, the New Orleans Saints are an entirely new beast.

In Week 13, be sure to watch Vander Esch and see if he’s able to keep up with the Saints offense. It’s also good to watch and see how many tackles he finishes the game with. The Saints are the Cowboys’ biggest challenge this season and they’re going to need to be at the top of their game.

While Vander Esch might not be their strongest player, he’s been their playmaker this season. The Saints are the perfect team to prove if the Cowboys defense is real or if they’ve just been getting lucky. With Sean Lee not returning until next week, Vander Esch needs to prove himself against the Saints.

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