Saints vs Seahawks Preview and Prediction
The NFL could not have asked for a better Monday Night Football game to start December than tonight’s matchup between NFC powerhouses the visiting New Orleans Saints and the host Seattle Seahawks.
Some see this game as a preview of the NFC playoffs and possibly the NFC Championship.
The last time the two teams met was in January of 2011, with the Saints a favorite by 10 points with the game being played in Seattle.
This time around, the Seahawks are the favorite and will be playing to secure NFC home-field advantage for the postseason.
Seattle is 10-1 SU and 7-4 ATS and holds a lead of one game over New Orleans who is 9-2 SU and 6-4-1 ATS, in the battle for the NFC No. 1 seed.
Seattle is 13-0 SU and 10-3 ATS in its past 13 games at home. They have not lost at home since December of 2011 against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Saints only two losses of this season have been on the road against the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. On the road, the Saints are 1-4 ATS this season.
Seattle is not only strong at home, but Monday Night Football has been good to them. The Seahawks are 5-0 SU and ATS over their past five Monday Night games since late 2010.
This season, the Seahawks have covered in 7 of their 11 games when laying points. Seattle has yet to be an underdog this season.
This is just the second time this season the Saints are underdogs. Since their Super Bowl in 2009, the Saints are 6-8 ATS when an underdog.
New Orleans had one of the league’s strongest aerial attacks, while Seattle is No. 2 in the NFL in pass defense.
A key in the game will be Jimmy Graham the Saints tight end. Graham has 65 receptions on the season but will likely be covered by the safety tandem of Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas who are both first rate.
If that is not enough, the Seattle secondary has Richard Sherman, one of the league’s best at cornerback. If Seattle can shut down Graham, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees could have a long night.
Seattle nevertheless will be without two starters in the secondary with Walter Thurmond suspended and Brandon Browner with a sore groin. Brees is a great quarterback in finding a weakness in an opponent and exploiting it.
Seattle’s offense has picked up this year. The Seahawks are second in scoring at 27.8 per game, first in yards per attempt in passing and sixth in rushing yards per attempt.
Russell Wilson the Seattle quarterback has 19 touchdown passes and only six picks. His strong arm and mobility give him a dual threat against the improved Saints defense.
Marshawn Lynch the Seattle running back has 925 yards rushing. He has helped the team to become No. 2 in the league in rushing yards per game.
Defensively New Orleans is much improved ranked No. 5 in the league in yards allowed, but they have not played well against the run, a strength of the Seahawks.
Prediction: The scoring will be lower than most Saints games. Seattle will control the ball offensively on the ground and slow down Brees enough to win.
Pick: Seattle 27-21
