Prime-time matchup: The Saints’ strong ‘D’ is poised to end the Jaguars’ streak
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JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-2) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-3)
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LINE: New Orleans with 1
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CHEWABLE: It sounds very much like Trevor Lawrence can play through the knee injury he suffered last week, but if not, CJ Beathard will be Jacksonville’s starting quarterback and Canadian Nathan Rourke will be left off the practice roster to serve as backup.
Beathard, who is in his third season with the Jags, would be making his first start for the team. He started 12 games with a 2-10-0 record over three seasons with the 49ers before signing with Jacksonville.
Should Beathard get the call, Jaguars OC Press Taylor is very confident that the 29-year-old former Iowa Hawkeye can lead the offense at a high level and lead the team to victory.
— The Jaguars lead the NFL with 15 takeaways (eight interceptions, seven fumbles) after intercepting three Gardner Minshew passes last week.
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— In addition to the wins in the last three games, three of the Jaguars’ four total wins were by double digits.
– No one in the league had more rushing attempts than Jacksonville’s Travis Etienne Jr., who carried the ball 113 times for 451 yards, an average of four yards per pass. The Saints defense ranks ninth against the run.
– The Saints’ top-five defense allowed opponents an average of just 182 passing yards per game.
– The Saints are 1-5 ATS and have been favorites in every loss.
– Saints scored just 13 points in last week’s loss to the Texans despite Derek Carr completing 32 of 50 passes for 353 yards.
– This is the first time these teams will play each other since October 13, 2019. The Saints have won the last four meetings.
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– The Jags are a very good, well-coached team, but are expected to be missing key players in CB Tyson Campbell and WR Zay Jones, and if Lawrence plays he won’t be 100%, which is a warning sign against such a good defense. They’ve also only played one other top-six defense, and they lost that game 17-9 to the Chiefs.
— Expect Alvin Kamara to add to his first 100-yard game (68 rushing, 36 yards receiving) last week, his third of the season following a three-game suspension.
— If you’ve never been to Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, you’ll just have to trust me – its ranking as one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL is well-deserved. In this prime-time matchup, and with the Saints having a chance to at least temporarily move to the top of the NFC South, “Who Dat Nation” will be a factor.
REVENUE: NEW ORLEANS -1
RESULT (O/U 40): Saints 23, Jaguars 21
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