Saints vs Cardinals Preview & Free Pick [October 20th 2022]

Denver (2-3) at LA Chargers (3-2)
When: Monday, October 17th 2022
Where: SoFi Stadium,
Inglewood, CA
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -4.5/47.5

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Two disappointing 2-4 NFC teams face off on Thursday night in pivotal Week 7 contest as the New Orleans Saints visit the Arizona Cardinals on Amazon Prime. Arizona is a 1.5-point favorite in this contest, with a total of 45 points. The Saints and Cardinals both had high expectations entering the season, but have struggled through the first six games. Arizona managed only nine points against a Seattle Seahawks defense that is one of the worst in the league and lost 19-9 last Sunday. The Cardinals also lost a couple of key players. Left guard Justin Pugh suffered a torn ACL that will end his season and wide receiver Marquise Brown will miss several weeks because of a foot injury. Help is on the way at wide receiver, however. DeAndre Hopkins came off the suspended list Monday and the team went out and acquired Robbie Anderson from the Carolina Panthers for two draft choices.

The Saints have dropped four of five after last week’s 30-26 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but are just one game behind Atlanta and Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South. All four of New Orleans’ losses have been by 10 or fewer points. Red zone offense and defense was an issue for the Saints last week, as they scored just one touchdown in five trips, while the Bengals were 3-for-3. New Orleans didn’t turn the ball over last week, but are still minus-seven on the season. These teams last played in 2019 when Drew Brees and the Saints won 31-9. Kyler Murray was 19-for-33 for 220 yards and no touchdowns and the Cardinals were held to just 40 yards rushing.

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The Saints couldn’t hold on to a fourth quarter lead in last week’s loss to the Bengals and allowed a 60-yard TD pass with just under two minutes left. Andy Dalton started at QB for the Saints, but regular starter Jameis Winston appears to be a go for Thursday. Dalton didn’t have his top three wideouts in Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry or Chris Olave. The only one expected to play Thursday is Olave. Dalton passed for 162 yards and a touchdown with no picks on 17-of-32 completions. Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore is expected to miss another game, while offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton (hip) and defensive end Payton Turner (chest) were limited in practice. New Orleans is 4-1 ATS in its past five after a loss.

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Brown is a big loss for Arizona, as he was the team’s leading receiver with 43 catches for 485 yards and three scores. Murray passed for 222 yards and rushed for 100 in the loss to the Seahawks and now has 2,019 career rushing yards since entering the NFL in 2019. Murray has two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in two of his three career starts on a Thursday. Running backs James Conner and (ribs) and Darrel Williams (knee) were out injured and may not play against New Orleans. The Under is 4-0 in the Cardinals’ last four games overall.

I expect the Cardinals to rebound from a poor outing last week and outscore the Saints on Thursday. The return of Hopkins is just what Kyler Murray needs to get back on track.

Week 7 NFL Staff Selections

Pick: Cardinals -1.5

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