This week, the NFL regular season kicks off. And the first opponent for the Dallas Cowboys will be quarterback Tom Brady and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which America’s Team will host at AT&T Stadium Sunday night in prime time.
And there have been many pundits making many different predictions about the possible outcome of this game. But maybe there isn’t a more important take to Cowboy fans than that of former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. And the reason is fairly obvious.
Payton was an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach under the legendary Hall of Famer Bill Parcells in Dallas before joining the Saints as their head coach back in 2006. He would eventually lead the longtime struggling New Orleans franchise to a Super Bowl championship just four seasons after his arrival.
His success with the Saints and his connection with the Cowboys has led to much speculation over the years on whether Payton just might return to Dallas in order to take the reins as head coach. And now that the 58-year old is essentially a free agent and no longer with the Saints, speculation continues as to whether he might become the Cowboys’ next head coach in 2023 … or potentially sooner depending how the team’s season progresses.
For now, Payton has opted to pursue a career in broadcasting with him reportedly joining the crew over at FOX Sports as a studio panelist on the wildly popular FOX NFL Sunday program. Ironically filling for another former Cowboys head coach, Jimmy Johnson, when the latter has days off.
But on Tuesday, Payton made an appearance on the Up & Adams Show for FanDuel TV. There, host Kay Adams asked the former Saints coach his take on the Cowboys upcoming matchup against the Bucs. Here’s what Payton had to say about the regular season opener …
“I like Dallas in this game. I think Dallas’s defense has improved again. I think Dan [Quinn] does a great job. Those guys play with great speed to the football, will turn it over. I like them winning this game.”
Sean Payton on the Up & Adams Show
It’s interesting to note that Sean Payton mentioned the Cowboys defense and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn when picking Dallas to defeat the Buccaneers in this matchup. That would fit the narrative many have been pushing this offseason that the Cowboys defense has eclipsed its offense as the team’s identity and likely biggest reason for a possible return to the postseason in 2022.
