MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

BY ADAM GREENE

In spite of the best efforts of COVID-19, the injury bug and even a Kevin James movie, the New Orleans Saints remain alive in the playoff hunt. To stay that way, they’ll have to knock off the visiting (and surging) Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football at the Caesars Super Dome.

New Orleans has resuscitated its season thanks to two consecutive wins and, depending on what happens over the weekend, is hovering right outside the NFC bracket or has a chance to win and get inside it. No team in the league has been hotter than the Dolphins over the last two months. After opening the year 1-7, Miami has won six straight and, thanks to a clogged up AFC, is just as much in the playoff race as anyone.

This is the 13^th all time meeting between the two teams and the series is knotted up 6-6. New Orleans has won the three straight over Miami, with the last victory coming in Oct. 2017. The Saints took it in a 20-0 shutout. Drew Brees finished 29 of 41 for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Alvin Kamara rushed five times for 25 yards and caught 10 passes for 71 yards and a TD. Michael Thomas had eight catches for 89 yards and a score. Jay Cutler was 20 of 28 for 164 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. DeVante Parker caught six passes for 69 yards.

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-3, O/U: 39)

Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.

Broadcast: ESPN

Kickoff: Dec. 27, 8:15 p.m.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-7)

While the Dolphins have been stacking up wins over the last month, its come at the expense of some of the NFL’s worst teams. Sunday, they held on for a 31-24 victory over the bottom dwelling New York Jets. Tua Tagovailoa threw for 196 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Duke Johnson rushed 22 times for 107 yards and two TDs. Parker caught four passes for 68 yards and a score. Miami’s defense sacked Zach Wilson six times and held New York to 102 yards rushing.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-7)

New Orleans completed the regular season sweep of the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning 9-0 in the first shutout suffered by Tom Brady since 2006. Taysom Hill Taysom Hilled it, completing 12 of 27 passing for 154 yards and adding 11 carries for 33 yards on the ground. Marquez Calloway caught six passes for 112 yards. The Saints defense sacked Tom Brady four times, with Cameron Jordan notching two of them. They also picked him off once, forced a Brady fumble and got him to destroy one Microsoft Surface tablet.

THE PICK

I really want to like Miami here, but New Orleans at home, with their defense playing at a postseason level (in spite of the offense playing at a preseason level), it’s hard to see it happening. I think this will be another low scoring game, but one that ends the Fins’ playoff hopes for 2021. Saints 17, Dolphins 13

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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