Chris Jordan 12/19 2,000♦ NFC Game of the Year
Chris Jordan Saturday winner ...
Special Point Spread Note Below
2000♦ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - I loved this game when the line came out, and though I’ve seen the heavy money come in on the Saints, I think it’s all justified. There are several contributing factors to this blowout, but what sprung to mind last Sunday night after watching the Cowboys fall to San Diego was the following:
The Saints dismantled and embarrassed the New England Patriots in the Superdome, and I believe the Pats are better than the Pokes. The Cowboys couldn’t do a thing right against the Chargers, and I think the Saints are better than the Bolts. So with the Cowboys having to prepare on a short week, and Saints coach Sean Payton – formerly with the Cowboys – getting to defend a quarterback he helped mold, I think anything less than double digits is a steal tonight.
Look, I know the Saints have barely gotten by lately, squeaking out wins at lowly Washington and in Atlanta, against an always-tough division rival. But look at the Saints’ schedule since mid-November, at which point they were outscoring opponents by an average final of 37.8-21.7, a margin of 16 points.
But since Nov. 15, admittedly, the margin has dropped. Against St. Louis, Tampa, New England, Washington and Atlanta, the average final is 32.6-20, a margin of 12 points per win. Yes, New Orleans’ scoring has been scaled back, as has the margin per win, but now take in consideration the following: over the past 35 days – exactly five weeks – the Saints have played four of those games on the road.
Figure the team has been on the road 12 of those days, arriving two days before each game, and spending the third day playing in St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Washington and Atlanta. So it wasn’t as dominating as you may have expected, but sandwiched between that quartet was the 38-17 shellacking of the Patriots.
That game was at home. Like today’s.
And in case you haven’t been reading the headlines, they’re starting to call Who Dat the new America’s Team. If that’s the case, the Saints need to knock off the age-old America’s Team, and I say they need to do it handedly.
Let’s be real, no matter the season and no matter how good the Cowboys are, it’s always satisfying for an opposing team to annihilate the Pokes. That goes back to when Tex Schramm owned the team – it’s not a Jerry Jones thing. That goes back to when Tom Landry coach; it’s not a Wade Phillips thing, just as it wasn’t a Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey, Dave Campo or Bill Parcells thing ... you get the point.
So while everyone is making too much out of the Saints’ secondary, and wondering if the mettle of this team has been tested, I’m here to tell you this team is playing to the level of competition and has simply been tired. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams knows what he’s doing, he knows when to dial up 1-800-B-L-I-T-Z-Q-B, and when not to so he has enough defenders dropping back into coverage. He also knows how to effectively utilize blitzing packages to neutralize the rushing game, something the Cowboys will depend on.
Williams’ unit is going to be fired up, in looking to send a message over to the other undefeated team in the league, making a statement that the Saints are good on both sides of the ball and that Indianapolis better come stronger than Peyton Manning’s heroics.
Start fast and finish strong, that’s been the Saints’ battle cry most of the season, and it should be the tune they sing tonight against a hapless Cowboys team that will finally be put out of its misery.
Who Dat 2,000♦ winner … the Saints! Enjoy the game.
NOTE: The line has been all over the place the past 24 hours, and for the most part I am seeing the line at 7-1/2 at this point. My suggestion is that you buy the 1/2-point down to 7 points when laying the favorite tonight.
Do I believe the Saints roll in this one? Absolutely! But the fact is that this is such a vulnerable number - the 7-point spread - that the Saints could be up by double digits late, with the game in hand, when coach Sean Payton decides to avoid injury and pulls his starters. Far be it for me to become victim of the backdoor-cover with some garbage-time points and see this game fall right on seven.
Thus, when playing the Saints, my advice to you is bet the best possible line, which at this time happens to be 7 points.
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