The red-hot
New Orleans Saints will travel to Cincinnati to take on the slumping
Bengals in an NFL showdown on Sunday. The Saints have won seven straight games, and are coming off of their biggest win of the season against the Rams.
Cincinnati had lost two straight games before holding off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week nine.
The Cincinnati Bengals are trying desperately to hold on to a playoff spot in the AFC. The Bengals come into this contest with a 5-3 record and currently are a Wild-Card team, but they still have plenty of work to do. New Orleans brings a 7-1 record into this matchup and could take a two-game lead in the NFC South with a win. The Saints are a 5.5 point favorite over the Bengals on Sunday.
Can Bengals Stop Saints?
The
Cincinnati defense will likely play a huge role in this game, and that could be a problem for the Bengals. The
Bengals have given up close to 30 points per game this season, which could spell disaster against a terrific Saints offense.
Carlos Dunlap and
Geno Atkins have combined for 13 sacks so far this season, and they will need to find a way to get pressure on Drew Brees in this game.
Offensively, the Bengals should be able to match the Saints and put some points on the board. Quarterback Andy Dalton is having a resurgent season and has thrown for over 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Receivers A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd have been the recipient of 11 of those touchdown passes, and form a solid 1-2 punch on the perimeter. Running back Joe Mixon gives the team balance, averaging close to 5 yards per carry.
Brees Continues to Amaze
At age 39,
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is having perhaps the best season of his NFL career. Brees has completed a record 76.3 percent of his passes so far this season and has thrown 18 touchdowns to just one interception. Wide receiver
Michael Thomas has hauled in 70 passes already this season for an average of 12.6 yards per reception. The Saints offense is explosive and should have a big game against the Bengals on Sunday.
Despite a stellar start to the season, the Saints continue to make trades and acquisitions to improve their roster. Wide receiver Dez Bryant was signed this week and could make his Saints debut on Sunday. Earlier this season, New Orleans took cornerback Eli Apple from the New York Giants in an effort to improve their defense. The Saints are still allowing over 27 points per game this season, but have been playing better of late.
New Orleans Routs Bengals
This game features a pair of potential NFL playoff teams, but this game doesn’t feel like a competitive game. The Bengals have looked shaky in recent weeks, and their lack of defense will come back to bite them against the Saints. New Orleans looks like a Super Bowl contender this season with Drew Brees leading the way. Look for the Saints to put up over 40 points in this game. Bet the New Orleans Saints -5.5 over the Bengals on Sunday.