Week 7 of the NFL season wraps up with two of last year’s playoff teams looking to find their offensive identity with new quarterbacks. The 3-2 New Orleans Saints are still adjusting to life without Drew Brees, and they travel to face the 2-4 Seattle Seahawks, who are without injured Russell Wilson. The kickoff at Lumen Field is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday, and the game will be televised by ESPN.
These teams have met 16 times in their history, with each winning eight times. The last meeting was in 2019 as the Saints won in Seattle 33-27, and they also won the meeting in 2016 in New Orleans. The Seahawks won playoff games against the Saints in 2011 and 2014, and their last regular-season win over New Orleans came in 2013.
Saints Getting Healthy Off Bye
Coming off their bye week, the Saints are starting to get healthy as defensive end Marcus Davenport, lineback Kwon Alexander, wideout Tre’Quan Smith, and kicker Will Lutz are all ready to either return to action or make their season debuts.
The Saints defense ranks second in the NFL, allowing just 79 yards per game on the ground. In five games, only Washington has gone over 100 yards rushing against the Saints this season.
Jameis Winston had a great opener with five touchdowns against the Packers, but he has struggled with consistency since. The Saints rank 31st in the NFL at 169.4 passing yards per game, and Winston has 12 touchdowns to go with three interceptions. The passing game was better before the bye as Winston threw for 279 yards in the 33-22 win at Washington.
Alvin Kamara is the long-running back with more than 75 yards on the season. He has 368 yards for 3.9 per carry and one touchdown. Taysom Hill, who is injured, leads the Saints with three rushing touchdowns this season, while Winston also has one.
All-Pro Michael Thomas is still out injured, leaving Deonte Harris, Marquez Callaway, and Kamara as the top options in the passing game. Callaway, Kamara, and tight end Juwan Johnson all have three receiving touchdowns. Harris leads the team with 236 receiving yards, while Kamara has 15 receptions.
Seahawks Adjusting Without Wilson
The Seahawks have lost two games in a row and would be alone in last place in the NFC West with another loss. Even before losing Wilson to a hand injury during the Rams loss two games ago, things were not perfect for Seattle this season. The offense was putting up points, but the defense allowed 33 and 30 points in consecutive losses in Week 2 and Week 3.
With Wilson out, veteran Geno Smith has taken over at quarterback. Monday will be his second start, and he threw for 209 yards in an overtime loss at Pittsburgh last week. Smith had a touchdown pass but also fumbled in overtime, leading to the Steelers’ game-winning kick.
The Seahawks running back situation is a disaster with Rashaad Penny coming back from IR. Chris Carson has been out with a neck injury and is now on IR. Alex Collins ran 20 times for 101 yards last week but is questionable for Monday with a groin injury, leaving no runners with more than 40 yards on the season.
If Smith has time to throw, the Seahawks have great weapons with Trent Lockett and DK Metcalf. Metcalf has 31 catches for 441 yards and five touchdowns on the season, while Lockett has 27 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns. Freddie Swain also has two touchdown catches to go with 130 yards.
Betting Analysis
- New Orleans Saints -4 (-110). Money line -210
- Seattle Seahawks +4 (-110). Money line +175
- Total Points 41.5. Over -105, Under -115
The Saints are coming off their bye week, rested and healthy, while the Seahawks are still banged up, especially at running back and on the line. It isn’t fun betting on either of these quarterbacks to produce right now, but the Saints have a much better defense. If Seattle can’t run the ball at all, it will be a long night, even in front of the 12th man.
Betting Pick: New Orleans -4 (-110)
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