The Cowboys intercepted Saints quarterback Taysom Hill three times in the final six minutes 32 seconds of the game, including defensive tackle Carlos Watkins' pick-6 on a screen pass that made it 27-10 with 2:52 left.

The Saints gave the dual threat Hill his first start this season in hopes that he could help New Orleans end a four-game skid.

He was effective in spurts, passing for 264 yards and two touchdowns - and running for 101 yards - but he threw four interceptions.

Dak Prescott passed for 238 yards and a 1-yard touchdown to Michael Gallup as Dallas (8-4) won without coach Mike McCarthy and five assistants because of positive COVID-19 tests.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was the Cowboys' acting head coach.

The game was close into the third quarter, when Pollard gave Dallas a 20-10 advantage by slipping an arm tackle in the backfield and speeding away from everyone else.

The Saints were trying to close within one score early in the fourth quarter.

Rookie outside linebacker Micah Parsons squelched the life out of that drive when he sacked Hill for an 11-yard loss back to the New Orleans 40-yard line on fourth down.

The 10th sack of the season for Parsons, drafted 12th overall out of Penn State, forced a punt.

The Saints have started slowly throughout their skid and this game was no exception as they failed to score in the first quarter for the fifth game in a row.

Australian Associated Press