Saints (7-1) at Bengals (5-3)
W..atIndianapolis ..34-23 W ....... Baltimore ....... 34-23 L ....... at Carolina ....... 31-21 W ...... at Atlanta ...... 36-37 W .......... Miami .......... 27-17 L ...... Pittsburgh ...... 28-21 L ...atKansasCity ...45-10 W ..... TampaBay ..... 37-34 Nov. 4 .............. Bye .............. Nov. 11 ... New Orleans ... 1 Nov.18 ...atBaltimore ...1 Nov. 25 ...... Cleveland ...... 1 Dec. 2 ......... Denver ......... 1 Dec.9..atChargers..4:05 Dec. 16 ....... Oakland ....... 1 Dec.23 ...atCleveland ...1 Dec. 30 .. at Pittsburgh .. 1
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 4
Saints’ keys to victory: QB Drew Brees and the Saints can’t afford to waste time against a hotand-cold Bengals offense. RB Alvin Kamara got them going in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams, and Kamara should find plenty of running room against a Bengals defense that is near the top of the league in missed tackles. A quick lead also would force the Bengals into a one-dimensional passing attack that probably will be without WR A.J. Green (toe).
Bengals’ keys to victory: Wrap up and execute. Sounds like coach speak, but defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s unit is on pace to allow the most yardage in NFL history (447.8 yards per game). LB Vontaze Burfict took the communications headset for the first time in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the Bengals’ bye and led the effort to minimize blown assignments and missed tackles. Burfict, LB Preston Brown and others executing tackles in space could be the difference between funneling the ball where they want it and getting blown out.
Matchup to watch: Saints offensive line vs. Bengals pass rush. The Saints neutralized the Rams’ strong pass rush in Week 9 and now look at another one, led by DE Carlos Dunlap and DT Geno Atkins. But the Bengals lost their most efficient pass rusher, DE Carl Lawson, to a season-ending injury last time out. If Cincinnati can overcome this, it can ruin Brees’ timing.
Who wins? Unlike past seasons, the Saints have looked great on the road this year. The trend won’t change.
Saints, 36-24 Saints