2 weeks Ago By Travis Wakeman
The Los Angeles Chargers are facing a New Orleans Saints team that has lost five games in a row and is desperate to keep it from going totally off the rails. After stubbing their toe on Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals, the Chargers are in need of a big win as well. The Chargers and Saints don't often face each other, but it has been two decades since Los Angeles beat New Orleans.
The last time it happened, Drew Brees was the QB of the Chargers. After two big games throwing the ball, Justin Herbert will look to continue his streak of strong play. Quarterback is a big question for the Saints, who have been without Derek Carr and have had to put out a rookie in Spencer Rattler who just hasn't been put in the best situation to succeed due to all of the other injuries the team has been dealing with.
How do the experts see this game shaking out? Week 8 NFL expert picks: Chargers vs. Saints Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: Chargers 26, Saints 10 Iyer: " The Saints are falling apart against the run and pass with bad tackling from Dennis Allen's defense. Jim Harbaugh will take advantage of that with strong run blocking and big volume for the backs with calculated downfield shots from Justin Herbert.
The Chargers also will come out defensively to slow down the only real offensive asset for New Orleans, Alvin Kamara." Bill Bender, The Sporting News: Chargers 22, Saints 17 Bender: " The Saints could get Derek Carr (oblique) back as early as Week 9, but that won't help in a road game against the Chargers. The Saints' defense has allowed an average 42 points per game in its last two losses.
The Chargers are working on a short week, and they have not allowed more than 20 points in a game under Jim Harbaugh. Can Spencer Rattler, who has taken 11 sacks in two starts, get enough protection to keep it close?" Maurice Moton, Bleacher Report: Chargers 24, Saints 14 Moton: "This game should be a delight to watch—for fans of colonoscopies and trips to the dentist without that wimpy Novocaine nonsense. Three-plus hours of these teams is more terrifying than anything Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Jigsaw could ever do, even if they formed a three-man tag team.
"The Saints have been absolutely shredded by injuries on offense, and the Chargers just marched up and down the field against a bad Cardinals defense only to wind up with all of five field goals to show for it. Therein lies the rub: laying over a touchdown with a team scoring 17.7 points per game.
Just can't do it, especially with there being at least a chance that Carr plays. Even if he doesn't? It's Rattler time again. What could go wrong?" MORE CHARGERS NEWS Chargers vs.
Saints series history Chargers Week 7 winners, losers Chargers looking at multiple options to upgrade WR room Chargers being connected to multiple cornerbacks ahead of trade deadline.
