The Arizona Cardinals may need a few prayers to upset the New Orleans Saints this week, if the NFL experts picks gathered by Pickwatch are anything to go by. 99% of those surveyed are going with the Saints to defend the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and go into their bye week with a win over Arizona.
It’s an interesting game because the personnel decisions are far from decided. Saints quarterback Drew Brees still hasn’t put in a full day’s work in practice while recovering from thumb surgery, though he has made great progress this week and hopes to play on Sunday. If he doesn’t get the start, there’s a chance backup passer Teddy Bridgewater could play another game without superstar running back Alvin Kamara next to him — Kamara returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday while managing a high-ankle injury.
Still, to see the experts write it out, it doesn’t matter who the Saints have leading the huddle or taking off out of the backfield. The Saints are a convincing 6-1 on the year so far, having gone on a five-game winning streak with Brees sidelined, and the Cardinals are standing uneasily at 3-3-1 after stringing together a few good games against three of the NFL’s weaker teams; the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and Cincinnati Bengals are a combined 3-18.
That said: the Saints still have to play this game, and assuming you’ll win is the easiest way to get beaten in this league, where the phrase goes that anyone can win on any given Sunday. Hopefully the Saints will get core players like Brees and Kamara on the right path so that they can finish the first leg of their season strong.
