An offensive lineman was Saints’ highest-graded player vs. Cowboys, but which one is a surprise?

On a banner day for the New Orleans Saints‘ offense

that resulted in Sunday’s 44-19 rout of the Dallas Cowboys,

it might take a few guesses to find their highest-rated player in Pro Football Focus weekly grades.

Was it running back Alvin Kamara, who had 180 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns? Nope.

Quarterback Derek Carr, the model of efficiency and explosiveness? Close, but no.

Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, whose 70-yard touchdown made highlight reels around the NFL?

Not him, either. The Saints’ highest-graded player was none other than left guard Lucas Patrick.

who was given a 97.2 grade from PFF, which grades every player in every NFL game combining

traditional scouting with analytics and statistical analysis.

Patrick, who signed with the Saints after spending the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears,

was considered a weak link in the New Orleans offensive line.

But he’s been part of an O-line resurgence — after two games,

he ranks as PFF’s best guard in the entire NFL.

The Saints’ second-rated player from Sunday was another offensive lineman, center Erik McCoy.

who received a 92.2 and is the league’s highest-rated center through two games as well.

In all, four offensive players were in rarified air above a grade of 90.

with both Carr and receiver Chris Olave graded at 91.1. Shaheed was next at 85.5.

Somewhat surprising, Kamara only received a 67.4.

above average but only the ninth-best for the Saints offense Sunday.

Rookie tackle Taliese Fuaga, who missed practice Thursday and Friday with a back injury,

managed a solid 68.1. On the defensive side, linebacker Demario Davis led the way at 91.4.

followed by edge rusher Carl Granderson (85.6); safety Tyrann Mathieu (82.9);

and rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (77.1),

who was pressed into extra duty by an injury to Marshon Lattimore.

Few Saints starters had poor grades. Tight end Foster Moreau (52.5) was the lowest-rated

of any offensive starter. followed by Taysom Hill (56.0) and Trevor Penning (57.0).

Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee was given only a 46.3.

He had a strip-sack in the game of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott,

but Bresee was only given a 28.3 grade for tackling.

Cornerbacks Paulson Adebo (54.4) and Alontae Taylor (51.7) also had low grades.