Outlook for Sunday Night Kickoff
In the first Monday Night game of the season, the New Orleans Saints host the Houston Texans. Both of these teams made the playoffs last season, and the Saints came close to making the Super Bowl. They are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season, and it is, pretty much, Super Bowl or bust for New Orleans. These teams have not met since the 2015 season.
The Texans had a tumultuous off-season, as they not only lost Pro Bowl RB Lamar Miller to a season-ending knee injury but traded away former #1 draft pick Jadeveon Clowney to the Seattle Seahawks. They did bring in WR Kenny Britt and OT Laremy Tunsil, and he was brought in to help an offensive line that gave up the most sacks in the league last season.
How the Public is Betting the Packers/Bears Game
As of Wednesday morning, the spread for this game has not changed since opening with the Saints still a 7-point favorite. The total has slightly changed now at 52.5 after opening at 53.5.
Injury Concerns
Texans:
WR Will Fuller V and backup QB AJ McCarron are both listed as probable for this game, and LB Brennan Scarlett, WR Keke Coutee, C Greg Mancz, T Tytus Howard, and C Zach Fulton are all listed as questionable.
Saints:
QB P.J. Williams and LB Alex Anzalone are both listed as questionable for this game.
When the Texans Have the Ball
Houston was a little more of a run-first team last season, but that was with Miller in the backfield. The Texans will rely on two backs who were not with the team last season in Duke Johnson Jr. (201 rushing yards last season) and the recently acquired Carlos Hyde (571 rushing yards last season), who are #1 and #2 on the RB depth chart. They will be facing a New Orleans defense that ranked 3rd against the run, but only 22nd against the pass. QB DeShawn Watson had a good 2018 campaign, and while the Texans upgraded their offensive line in the off-season, they have to prove they are better in the regular season. Watson passed for 4,165 yards last season with 26 TD and nine INT but was sacked a whopping 62 times. WR DeAndre Hopkins had the 2nd most receiving yards in the league last season (1,572 yards) and Will Fuller V had the 2nd most on the Texans with 503 receiving yards.
When the Saints Have the Ball
When you think of the Saints, you think Drew Brees, but the Saints were a much more balanced team last season mainly because of the play of RB Alvin Kamara (883 rushing yards 81 rec 709 receiving yards). The Saints lost last season’s 2nd leading rusher in Mark Ingram II but brought in Latavius Murry, who rushed for 578 yards last season. New Orleans will look for balance on offense, but the run game will be facing a Houston run defense that led the NFL last season. Brees will get his opportunities in the air, and his main target is WR Michael Thomas, who had the 6th most receiving yards in the league. The Saints gave Brees another weapon in TE Jared Cook, who was with the Oakland Raiders last season and the veteran had 896 receiving yards and six TD. The New Orleans offensive line will not have to face Clowney in this game, but still will be going up against J.J. Watt, who ranked 2nd in the league last season with 16 sacks.
Betting Trends
While these teams have not met since the 2015 season in the last four games between them, the home team has covered the spread every time. Last season as the AFC South winners the Texans were 11-5 and 5-3 on the road but are only 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 road games. The Saints were 13-3 last season and 6-2 at home but have failed to cover the spread in their last five games overall and have failed to cover in their previous four home games. Both of these teams have also not been great Monday Night bets, as the Saints are 1-4 ATS in their last five Monday Night games and the Texans are 3-10 ATS in their last 10 Monday Night games.
Weather Report
Weather will not be a factor in this game played indoors at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
- Get more details: Texans at Saints NFL Match-up Stats
