Sunday Night NFL Vegas Predictions: San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints

Friday, October 05, 2012

by Frank Martin

The New Orleans Saints might be one of the best 0-4 teams in NFL history, but that offers little solace as they host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night. Seventy-seven teams have started 0-4 since 1990, when the NFL began its 12-team playoff format, and only one - the 1992 Chargers - reached the postseason.

The Saints nearly got off the schneid last week before losing at Green Bay 28-27, and they'll continue to have trouble winning until their NFL-worst defense (463.2 yards per game) figures out a way to keep the opponent out of the end zone. The Chargers are coming off a 37-20 victory at Kansas City, and will try for their second consecutive 4-1 start.

  San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints
When: 8:20 PM ET, Sunday, October 7, 2012
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC.

Opening Odds: New Orleans -3 - O/U: 52½
Current Odds: New Orleans -4 - O/U: 53
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San Diego Chargers (3-1): San Diego is 20-20 in September and October since Norv Turner took over as coach in 2007, so another fast start has turned some heads. Turner has created a bit of a running back controversy as Ryan Mathews was forced to share duties with Jackie Battle last week. Battle (15 carries, 39 yards, touchdown; four receptions, 42 yards, touchdown) outperformed Mathews, who entered the doghouse with a fumble in San Diego's 27-3 loss to Atlanta on Sept. 23. Quarterback Philip Rivers is off to a decent start (69.0 completion percentage, six touchdowns, four interceptions) and so is the defense (five interceptions), which is allowing only 17.8 points per game.

New Orleans Saints (0-4): New Orleans is allowing 32.5 points per game, which has put a lot of pressure on quarterback Drew Brees and the offense. Brees, who has been sacked nine times, has completed only 57.6 percent of his passes, although he has 10 touchdowns against five interceptions. The biggest problem with the offense lies in the running game, which is averaging 80.8 yards and has only produced two touchdowns. Mark Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner and the Saints' first-round draft pick in 2011, has only 90 yards on 32 carries. New Orleans started 0-4 in 2007 and won its next four to move into playoff contention, but faded to a 7-9 mark.

1. Brees will break Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas' 52-year-old record of 47 straight games with a touchdown pass if he throws one Sunday.

2. Saints RB-PR-KR Darren Sproles faces his former team for the first time. Sproles scored 21 touchdowns (11 receiving, six rushing, four on returns) in five seasons with the Chargers.

3. New Orleans won the last meeting 37-32 in 2008 at Wembley Stadium in London as Brees (339 yards, three touchdowns) and Rivers (341, three TDs) had nearly identical numbers.

NFL Football Prediction: Saints 31, Chargers 28.

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darren sproles - drew brees - heisman trophy - jackie battle - mark ingram - new orleans saints - philip rivers - ryan mathews - san diego chargers