NFL Live Betting: Saints would become NFC Favorites with Win at Patriots
by Bovada Sportsbook Staff | Oct. 11, 2013
The marquee game in Week 6 of the NFL schedule is from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro when New England hosts New Orleans in a potential Super Bowl preview and rare matchup between Tom Brady and Drew Brees, two future Hall of Famers. The Patriots opened as 2.5-point favorites at Bovada with a total of 49.5. There is Live Betting on the game.
New Orleans was 7-9 without head coach Sean Payton last season but is now 5-0 for the first time since the Saints’ Super Bowl-winning season in 2009 after beating the Bears impressively 26-18 in Chicago on Sunday. Brees was 29 of 35 passing for 288 yards and two touchdowns, while Jimmy Graham tied a record for NFL tight ends by pulling down 135 receiving yards. It was the fourth straight 100-yard game for Graham. Only Graham in 2011 and Tony Gonzalez in 2000 have had four straight 100-yard games at the position. About the only negative from Sunday was that Brees’ streak of throwing for at least 300 yards ended at eight-straight games, one shy of his record.
The Saints have had a prolific offense ever since Brees arrived in New Orleans, but their defense has also been a difference-maker this year. The Saints allowed an NFL-record amount of yards last season but under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan are fourth in scoring defense at 14.6 points per game. Four of New Orleans’ games have gone under the total in 2013. The Saints also have forced 11 turnovers and are plus-6 in turnover differential, No. 2 in the NFC.
New Orleans has jumped to 13/2 to win the Super Bowl, behind only Denver and Seattle. The Saints are 3/1 to win the NFC, just behind the Seahawks (5/2). That order would change next week with a win at New England. The Saints might clinch the NFC South by Halloween as they have a 3.5-game lead as the other three South clubs – Carolina, Atlanta and Tampa Bay – have combined for two wins.
New England (4-1) lost its first game of the season Sunday, 13-6 at Cincinnati. Brady’s streak of throwing a touchdown pass in 52-straight games ended. That is two shy of the record held by the Saints’ Brees (which ended in 2012). The Patriots were held to 248 total yards in a rain-drenched game. Brady completed only 18 of 38 passes, the fourth-worst percentage (47.4) in his career.
The Patriots were 1-of-12 on third down, and they couldn’t score a touchdown from the 1-yard line on three attempts midway through the fourth quarter, settling for a field goal. It was New England’s lowest points total since December 10, 2006, when they were blanked by the Miami Dolphins.
Brady is only the 22nd-rated quarterback in the league thus far as he has clearly missed Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski. However, it looks like Gronkowski will make his season debut this week. He had 55 catches for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns last season in 11 games before getting injured. The red zone is where "Gronk" is really missed as he is Brady’s favorite target there. New England led the NFL in touchdowns last year but is 31st in 2013. Only pathetic Jacksonville is worse. The Pats are 12/1 to win the Super Bowl on Bovada’s NFL futures.
New Orleans last faced New England on November 30, 2009, at the Superdome in a hyped Monday night game. The Saints won 38-17 to improve to 11-0 that season. Brees threw for 371 yards and five touchdowns to finish with a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Brady threw for 237 yards but no touchdowns and two interceptions.
