New Orleans Saints at Washington Redskins Line
The 11-0 New Orleans Saints look to remain unbeaten when they take on the 3-8 Washington Redskins Sunday in a Week 13 NFC showdown. Last week, the Saints sent a message to the rest of the league with a convincing 38-17 win over the Patriots. Meanwhile, Washington endured more heartbreak, blowing a fourth quarter lead for the second straight week to fall 27-24 to the Eagles. These teams last met last season with Washington winning 29-24 behind a big day from Jason Campbell. That win was the fourth in the last six meetings for Washington, which owns a 15-7 lead in the all-time series. NFL odds makers have listed the New Orleans Saints as the 9.5-point favorite with the total set at 47.5.
If the playoffs were to start today, the Saints would be the NFC’s No. 1 seed. They are 11-0 for the first time in franchise history, largely because of their complex offensive attack. And the Saints are not short on playmakers. Drew Brees is a leading candidate for NFL MVP honors and both Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell are getting it done in the running game. Marques Colston and Devery Henderson are the leading receivers. In fact, New Orleans put the hurt on New England last week and Reggie Bush didn’t even play, and he is one of the Saints most electrifying players. And I can’t leave out wideout Robert Meachem who has a touchdown in four straight games.
While the Saints’ offense is the best in the league, it’s been the improved play of the defense that has helped make them a title contender. And former Washington Redskins defensive guru Gregg Williams deserves most of the credit. Since coming over to the Saints following the 2007 season, it has not taken Williams long to transform the defensive side of the football in New Orleans. The Saints’ defense has been especially good the last two weeks and Williams’ knowledge of his former team doesn’t figure to hurt their chances Sunday. It is worth noting that the Saints are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0 points.
It’s been a season to forget for a Washington team that had high hopes of playing spoiler in the tough NFC East. The key here is how the Redskins will respond after back-to-back heartbreak losses to the Cowboys and the Eagles. While it won’t atone for the entire season, handing New Orleans its first loss would at least give this team and its fans a rare positive to embrace.
Washington’s offense has failed to show up in most games so it is going to have to be the defense that keeps the Skins in this one. Washington has the players on the defensive side of the football to put together a top notch performance. How LaRon Landry is able to make reads in the passing game and how Brian Orakpo, who leads all rookies with seven sacks, is able to get to the QB, will largely determine Washington’s chances. Washington has a 3-2 mark at home and the Saints have had some scares on the road, especially against a lowly Rams team. And New Orleans may be primed for a letdown after its biggest win of the season. It is worth noting that Washington is on a 10-1 ATS run versus excellent passing teams averaging 260 or more passing yards per game after 8 or more games into the season.
