Denver Broncos vs New Orleans Saints Point Spread Picks

2-0 Denver has the best point differential in the NFL this preseason (+41). The defense, expected to be strong with great starters and excellent depth, has been terrific, allowing an average of 8 points per game. They've held opposing offenses to a combined 3-of-25 on third down (12%). New Orleans is still trying to identify its starting quarterback for the regular season with Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, and Tyler Shough. The offense has averaged 15 points with the quarterbacks accounting for two TDs, three interceptions, and seven sacks. Play Denver + UNDER the total.

New Orleans is decimated with injuries on both sides of the ball and it has lost four in a row in a season that is quickly deteriorating for the Saints, who are 0-5 ATS their past five Thursday games. They were embarrassed 51-27 by Tampa Bay on Sunday and rookie Spencer Rattler threw for 243 yards and a TD, but he was picked off twice and sacked five times. Now the Saints have to play on a short week against Denver, which has won three of four although the Broncos look to bounce back from a 23-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are 5-1 ATS their past six games following an ATS loss and the Saints are 4-9 ATS their past 13 home games. Denver QB Bo Nix is slowly improving and he finished 19 of 33 for 216 yards against the Chargers. Denver also has the coaching edge with Sean Payton against Dennis Allen, whose job is hanging by a thread. Take the Broncos.

Teams used to dread going to Denver to play in the high altitude, but not so much anymore as the Broncos are only 2-3 at home this season, and the Saints are 3-1 on the road. New Orleans has won seven in a row and have not lost a beat since Drew Brees went down with an injury. Taysom Hill rushed for two touchdowns and went 18 of 23 for 233 yards and no interceptions in his first NFL start at quarterback as the Saints cruised past Atlanta 24-9. Michael Thomas caught nine passes for 104 yards, and the Saints piled up 168 rushing yards. Sean Payton is doing another masterful coaching job after his team lost two in a row early in the season against Las Vegas and Green Bay. The Saints defense is #3 in the league in yards allowed and #2 in rushing defense. Denver did beat the Dolphins 20-13, and Drew Lock completed 18 of 30 for 270 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. New Orleans is hitting on all cylinders while Denver is scoring only 20.6 points per game. Play the Saints on the moneyline.

This should be an interesting game. The Denver Broncos have one of the best back seven in the NFL, while Drew brees has been passing with precision over the last several games, moving the Saints to 4-4. Brees has made a habit of carving up defenses, but there is an exception. He has struggled mightily in his career vs. the Denver Broncos. Brees owns a lifetime 1-6 record vs. Denver. The average points scored in those games is a woeful 16.6 per contest, with a passer rating of 73.6. The Saints have been touching 30 points with regularity, but when facing a team that allows fewer than 20 points per game, they have touched 30 just once, and have averaged just 21.8 ppg. Trevor Siemian's nine starts for Denver has seen the total score average just 44.7 ppg. I think New Orleans' big offensive outputs are driving the total here, so make the play on the UNDER.