Alvin Kamara scores 4 TDs as Saints’ offense explodes again

ARLINGTON, Texas — New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara caught a touchdown pass and ran for three more scores as the Saints piled on the points in a 44-19 win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

The Saints (2-0) have now put up 91 points on offense through two games — the second most in franchise history and tied for sixth most among any team in NFL history. The 2009 Saints put up 93 points in their first two games en route to a win that season in Super Bowl XLIV.

The Saints also tied a franchise record by scoring 35 points in the first half.

The Saints parted ways with longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, who was the offensive coordinator of that Super Bowl team, before the season and Saints hired Klint Kubiak to install a new offense in the offseason.

Kamara had the second four-touchdown game of his career and the most since he scored six touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day in 2020. According to ESPN Research, he became the fifth player in the Super Bowl era with multiple career games of 150 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.

For the second time this season, the Saints pulled starting quarterback Derek Carr and put in backup Jake Haener due to their fourth-quarter lead. Carr’s only mistake was an interception late in the fourth quarter.

That ended the Saints’ streak of 16 straight scores when their starting offense was in the game this season.

Carr was 11-of-16 for 243 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, including a 70-yard touchdown to wide receiver Rashid Shaheed. He also had his first rushing touchdown since 2020 on a quarterback sneak.

Kamara set the tone for the day by rushing for a 5-yard score in the first quarter. He also caught a screen pass for a 57-yard touchdown in the second quarter and added a 12-yard touchdown run a few minutes later. He had two catches for 65 yards and ran for 115 yards against the Cowboys.

His last touchdown was on a 7-yard rush in the third quarter before the Saints began pulling their starters late in the game.