ARLINGTON, Texas - Jason Witten and the Dallas Cowboys can tell better than just about anyone the difference between the New Orleans Saints with and without coach Sean Payton. The Saints hung on for a 34-31 overtime win in Texas two years ago on the same day they were eliminated from playoff contention in a lost season without their suspended coach. Last year they became the first team in NFL history to get 40 first downs in a 49-17 blowout that was easily the worst for the Cowboys since coach Jason Garrett took over midway through the 2010 season. I think anytime youre humbled like that, theres a respect factor you have, Witten said of a game that propelled the Saints back to the post-season with Payton in charge while Dallas missed for the fourth straight year. It was good for our team to watch that tape and to see it, see what they did to us. Im sure they watched that tape as well. Payton will be on the sideline at the $1.2 billion home of the Cowboys on Sunday night after watching from his Dallas-area home in 2012 because of his season-long ban over the bounty scandal. He was on Bill Parcells staff in Dallas when he got the chance to coach the Saints. Watch the game on TSN1, 3, 4, 5 and TSN GO at 7pm et/4pm pt. Ive got a lot of close friends back there with that organization, Payton said. Theres a uniqueness about that program. Its special. Just having those opportunities, and ... when the schedule comes out and you see that its a Sunday night game, thats exciting. Drew Brees can share in the excitement because hes thrown for 838 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his past two games against the Cowboys. The former Texas high school star has won three straight against Dallas since the Cowboys beat the Saints in New Orleans when they were 13-0 and went on to win the Super Bowl in 2009. That win was the only one for Dallas in the past nine games against New Orleans. Theres a lot of new faces, Payton said of the Cowboys. The key, I think, and the message really was getting familiar with this team, the team were playing this weekend. These two teams really havent played each other yet when you look at the roster makeup. Things to watch in the fifth meeting in the past six seasons between the Saints and Cowboys, who lead the series 15-11 after winning 11 of the first 12 from 1967-84. MOMENTUM FACTOR: The Cowboys have won two in a row for their fourth straight 2-1 record in four full seasons under Garrett. But theyve never made it to 3-1 and havent won three straight in almost two years. The Saints (1-2) are trying to continue their recovery from an uncharacteristic 0-2 start under Payton. They took the first step with last weeks 20-9 victory over Minnesota. ROMOS ROUTINE: Tony Romo skipped practice on Wednesday last week and played his best game since returning from back surgery in December in last weeks 34-31 win at St. Louis. He showed some mobility, found Dez Bryant wide open on a 68-yard touchdown pass and directed a rally from a 21-0 deficit. So when he sat out Wednesday again this week, naturally the question of superstition came up. No, its probably a little deeper than that, but you can write that if it helps, Romo said with a smile. WITTEN AND GRAHAM: Witten needs 106 yards to become the third tight end in league history with 10,000 yards receiving. And hes squaring off against a standout in Jimmy Graham whos likely to join that list someday if he stays healthy. He already has 4,117 yards early in his fifth season. Witten is in his 12th year. ROB RYANS RETURN: Saints defensive co-ordinator Rob Ryan returns to his old home field after the Cowboys fired him following the 2012 season. He orchestrated the biggest defensive turnaround since the 1970 merger last year, and that included holding the Cowboys to their lowest yardage total (193) in five years. SUNDAY NIGHT MAGIC: The Saints are 8-1 on Sunday night under the Payton era, easily explainable by outside linebacker Junior Galette. Sunday night football, your mamas watching, your aunt, Galette said. You know, everybody is going to be watching that game a€” your sixth-grade girlfriend. So youre going to bring your A-game. Vans Shoes Cheap Online .2 million deal for the upcoming season with right-hander Garrett Richards.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the announcement hadnt been made. Vans Shoes Clearance . Yup, he definitely needed this one. Craig homered twice and had three RBIs Wednesday night to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Craig went 4 for 5 and Yadier Molina added three hits for the Cardinals, who salvaged the final game of a three-game set in hopes of staying within shouting distance of front-running Milwaukee in the NL Central. http://www.cheapvanssale.com/. MLB.com reported that the Dodgers locked the left-hander in for one year at $10 million with up to $4 million in incentives. Discount Vans Shoes Online . -- The Seattle Seahawks and wide receiver Sidney Rice have agreed to terms on a deal. Cheap Vans Shoes For Sale . Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed.TORONTO - James Reimer helped the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 shootout win over Los Angeles on Sunday, shutting out the Kings in the tiebreaker.Joffrey Lupul scored the lone goal for Toronto in the shootout. Tyler Bozak was denied by Jonathan Quick, and Mike Santorelli missed.Reimer turned away Marian Gaborik and Dustin Brown before Anze Kopitar missed for Los Angeles.The Kings rallied from a 2-0 deficit and led 3-2 in the third before the Leafs forced the overtime.Toronto has won five straight and is 9-1-1 since a 9-2 loss to visiting Nashville on Nov. 18.Santorelli, Cody Franson and James van Riemsdyk scored for Toronto before a crowd of 19,219 on a rare 5 p.m. local time Sunday start.Justin Williams, Dwight King and Gaborik scored for the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings. Quick finished with 28 saves.dddddddddddd.BLACKHAWKS 2, FLAMES 1CHICAGO (AP) — Brandon Saad scored with 7:03 left in the third period, and the Blackhawks beat the Flames for their 12th victory in the last 14 games.After motoring past Calgary defenceman Mark Giordano, Saad took a centring pass from Jonathan Toews and lifted a shot past Jonas Hillers glove.Toews also set up Patrick Sharps power-play goal as the surging Blackhawks dealt the Flames their fifth straight loss. Chicago had won eight in a row before Saturday nights 3-2 loss at the New York Islanders.Jiri Hudler had his team-leading 12th goal for Calgary, which has scored just eight times during its slide.Chicagos Antti Raanta made 23 saves while subbing for Corey Crawford, who is out with a foot injury. Hiller finished with 26 stops. ' ' '