NEW ORLEANS - Stat-heads knew coming into Cowboys at Saints that there was one particular "unstoppable force'' vs. another particular "moveable object'': In the first three weeks of the NFL season, Dallas' offense has become a splash-play king ... and New Orleans' defense has been a dismal failure in allowing splash plays.

The first-half story of this Sunday nighter at the Superdome? With a so-far score of Saints 9, Cowboys 3, Dallas' offense wasn't "unstoppable'' enough. And New Orleans' defense hasn't been "moveable'' enough.

Coming in, the Dallas offense, now overseen by baby-faced first-time coordinator Kellen Moore, was on pace for 107 passes of 15-plus yards in 2019 -- about twice what the Cowboys managed in 2018 and in 2017. The Cowboys offense had also created 16 plays of 20-plus yards this season, good for fifth in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Saints defense entered Sunday having allowed 19 plays of 20-plus yards this season -- placing them in 31st place in the 32-team NFL.

It seemed like a simple formula ... and maybe in the second half, it will come to fruition. But at the half in the Dome? It's been all about the Chidobe Awuzie interception (forced by a Jeff Heath hit) that led to Dallas' 3-0 lead ... and then a Jason Witten fumble that stopped a later Dallas possession. ... and then, on fourth-and-short from near midfield with 1:20 left, Dallas goes for it ... and Ezekiel Elliott fumbles away the football, leading to a half-ending Saints field goal.

"Splash plays''? The first half was a desert. It was all about fumbles and field goals ... and the Moore/Prescott-led offense managing just 66 yards total.