Detroit (4-9) at New Orleans (5-8)
When: Monday, December 21st 2015
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: ESPN
A pair of last place teams will battle it out on Monday Night Football as the Detroit Lions visit the New Orleans Saints. Detroit had aspirations of competing for the NFC North title this year, but lost their first five games and seven of their first eight. They turned it around in November by posting a three-game winning streak, but have since lost two straight. They will play their fourth prime-time game tonight, losing the previous three. QB Matt Stafford has played well over the past five weeks, throwing 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions and has put up some huge numbers against the Saints, averaging 362.3 yards passing in the past three meetings (playoffs included). With WR Calvin Johnson being held in check recently, Stafford has turned to Golden Tate, who had nine catches and a pair of touchdowns in last week’s 21-14 loss at St. Louis. Expect a lot of passing tonight against a poor Saints defense and the fact that Detroit has no running game. They are ranked dead last with just 79.3 rushing yards per game. Detroit is 1-5 on the road this year and will end the season at Chicago after hosting San Francisco next week.
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The New Orleans Saints come in with arguably the worst defense in football. They’re ranked 31st in yards allowed, 30th against the pass, last against the run, and last in points allowed. I don’t care how good Drew Brees is, no team can overcome that. Last week’s 24-17 win at Tampa Bay was the first time all season that the Saints have held their opponent to under 20 points. That broke a four-game losing streak and New Orleans still has a shot at an 8-8 record with Jacksonville and Detroit to finish the season. Brees snapped a 6-game interception streak last week and his approaching his 10th straight 4,000 yard season. He’s also five touchdown passes away from his 8th straight 30-TD season. Brees has been pretty good the last couple of Monday night games passing for 795 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Rookie wide receiver Willie Snead returned to the lineup after a one-game absence and had seven receptions for 122 yards last week. New Orleans has won an incredible 16 of 17 prime-time games.
I’m a perfect 4-0 this week in my Top 5 picks including the Thursday and Sunday night games. The Saints are one of my strongest plays in Week 15. New Orleans lets up a lot of points, but they’re playing better and Detroit is just awful. Take the Saints.
Pick: Saints -3
