NFL Play-Off Betting: Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints

NFL / Andy Richmond / 16 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

A unit to be feared - the New Orleans Saints offence

"With a plethora of offensive talent on display it’s going to boil down to which defence can hold up the best and that’s all I think we can expect them to do – hold up against the onslaught they are both going to face."

Two of the best offensive units in the league will go head-to-head here, expect lots of points says Andy Richmond

The Saints' offence hasn't been clicking lately, but one look at the Cardinals' porous defence from wild-card weekend has to have them feeling good about their chances of rediscovering that prolific passing game. This game is going to be a passing lover's delight. With Drew Brees facing Kurt Warner, and two defences that have trouble stopping the pass, this should feature a lot of big plays through the air.

Warner and the Cardinals won the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history last week to gain a ticket to the Superdome for Saturday's divisional showdown. Warner managed to engineer leads of 17-0 and 31-10 against the Packers but the Cardinals were shredded by Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers for 35 points in the final 20 minutes of the games to force a 45-45 tie and send the game into overtime. A repeat of that defensive display will send the Cards homeward bound - the Saints didn't put up 51 points this season, but scored 45 or more four times in the first six weeks and at least 35 three more times in starting 13-0.

The Cardinals have an average run game and will rely on their receiving corps once again - WR Larry Fitzgerald will get most of the coverage rolled his way. That means the other guys - Anquan Boldin (if fit), Steve Breaston and Early Doucet - have to play well and must beat their man coverage when they see it. If they do, they can get some big plays down the field. What will help the Saints is that for the first time for ages the secondary will be back in one piece. Last time they had Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Darren Sharper, and Roman Harper all fit the Saints led the league in interceptions.

With a plethora of offensive talent on display it's going to boil down to which defence can hold up the best and that's all I think we can expect them to do - hold up against the onslaught they are both going to face. Pressure the quarterback and you win the game - the rested Saints do that better.

Recommendation: New Orleans -7.5 @ [2.1]