MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

BY ADAM GREENE

It’s unfamiliar territory for the Seattle Seahawks as they host the New Orleans Saints at Lumen Field on Monday Night Football. For the second straight week, they’ll be without Russell Wilson in the line up, something that hasn’t happened since 2011, the year before Wilson was drafted in the third round out of Wisconsin. They’re also dead last in the NFC West, a division they won last year.

As for the Saints, they too are in uncharted waters with Jameis Winston replacing a retired Drew Brees as their starter. It’s been mixed results with the former No. 1 overall pick. They’re competitive on a weekly basis and, when you have to replace a first ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer, that might be the best you can ask.

This will just be the 17^th meeting between Seattle and New Orleans and the series is tied at 8-8. They last matched up in 2019, with the Saints taking a 33-27 shootout victory in Seattle. Wilson threw for 406 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Teddy Bridgewater, starting for an injured Brees, was good for 177 yards and two scores.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (+5, O/U: 42.5)

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle, Wash.

Broadcast: ESPN

Kickoff: Oct. 25, 8:15 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-2)

Every time you count the Saints out, they bounce back with a victory. Last week they knocked off the Washington Football Team 33-22 with Winston throwing for 279 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Alvin Kamara rushed 16 times for 71 yards and a score. New Orleans’ defense sacked Taylor Heinicke twice and picked him off twice.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-4)

The Seahawks are riding a two-game losing streak after falling 23-20 in overtime at the Pittsburgh Steelers a week ago. It took Geno Smith a half to get going, but he was again respectable in the loss, finishing 23 of 32 for 209 yards and a touchdown. Alex Collins dusted the moth balls off his jersey and rushed 20 times for 101 yards and a score. Smith lost a fumble and was sacked five times.

THE PICK

This is it, the Geno Smith vs Jameis Winston quarterback duel we’ve all been dreaming about since we first saw it coming up on the schedule. We’ll be telling our grandchildren about this one as we all gather together and watch the NFL Films retrospective on this very game. Smith has been OK in his action with Seattle and Winston has flashed the ability that got him taken first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015 and also the mistakes that got him dumped five years later. There are no real metrics to fall on here, so I’m taking Seattle at home. Seahawks 20, Saints 17

Last week

Straight up: 10-4

Against the spread: 10-4

Season

Straight up: 63-31

Against the spread: 50-44

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