New Orleans Saints vs Seattle Seahawks Predictions, Odds, Picks MNF

• It’s been 2+ weeks since the 3-2 Saints have played thanks to their Week 6 bye
• Seattle QB Russell Wilson (finger) is out and backup Geno Smith is starting under center
• New Orleans have won 16 of their last 17 October games

Saints vs Seahawks Week 7 Odds

Odds for Saints vs Seahawks Week 7 taken from DraftKings Sportsbook

It has been over two weeks since the 3-2 New Orleans Saints have played thanks to their Week 6 bye and the last pleasant memory QB Jameis Winston has is of his 4 TD passes in Week 5 as his Saints beat Washington, 33-22, a game that featured stellar play from RB Alvin Kamara (16 car, 71 yds, TD, 5 rec, 51 yds, TD), potential dual threat trouble for these banged up Seahawks.

Now that Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson recovering from finger surgery for the foreseeable future, the starting role under center goes to back up Geno Smith, who last week completed 23-of-32 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers while running back Alex Collins carried the ball 20 times for 101 yards and a touchdown, a hurt team all in on the next-man-up.

These two NFC rivals have played each other 16 previous times (including 2 postseason games), with the Seattle Seahawks winning 8 of those games and the New Orleans Saints winning 8 of the games.

Saints vs Seahawks Week 7 Predictions

Can Saints QB Jameis Winston Continue Where He Left Off Pre-Bye?

When Saints quarterback played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the knock on him was the inability to throw the ball consistently to only his players, leading the league in interceptions (30) during his final full season with them in 2019.

Now that New Orleans legend Drew Brees has retired, Winston has taken over under center and his play looks nothing like it did that final season with the Bucs, so far with just 3 interceptions on the season to his 12 touchdown passes.

Winston has completed 70 passes this year for 892 yards in five games, his best outing in Week 5 when he threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s win over Washington, a great memory to bring into this matchup against a Seattle defense ranked last in the league.

Can Seahawks Win with Backup QB Geno Smith Under Center?

The one thing the Seahawks always had going for them this season was the production of quarterback Russell Wilson who could keep them in the game with his playmaking ability backed by a more than capable arm.

Now Wilson is out after dislocating his finger on the Rams’ Aaron Donald’s helmet and his backup Geno Smith is in, a veteran journeyman reserve quarterback who is playing for the fourth NFL team of his career.

Smith had a productive outing in the team’s loss to the Steelers last week (23/32, 209 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT) proving that he can indeed get the job done, but if his defense (ranked 32nd) can’t keep the opposition off the field and from scoring then it doesn’t matter how well Smith can play.

Saints Key Player: (WR) Marquez Callaway

Now in his second NFL season, Saints wide receiver Marquez Callaway is quickly becoming a top target for QB Jameis Winston, the two having their best game of the year in Week 5 when they connected for 4 receptions for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns.

It’s that kind of overall production that tends to be helpful when the team’s top receiver Michael Thomas (ankle) is still out as is Tre’Quan Smith (hamstring) with Deonte Harris (hamstring) now listed as questionable and a coach’s game-time decision.

Time for Callaway to step up against a Seahawks defense that looks porous against the pass after allowing almost 300 yards against them in the air every game, something of which Callaway, who averages 17.1 yards a reception, will no doubt take full advantage.

Seahawks Key Player: (WR) DK Metcalf

One player that will be a key target for Seattle’s backup QB Smith is wide receiver DK Metcalf, the 6’ 4” 235-pound playmaker who is in his third NFL season following up a 2020 campaign that included 83 catches for over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns.

So far this season, Metcalf’s best game was in Week 5 when he caught two touchdown passes, his 5 receptions off the same number of targets resulting in almost a hundred yards of offense, a production that the Seahawks could use on Monday night.

Metcalf has 31 catches for 441 yards and 5 touchdowns in six games in 2021, so expect his backup quarterback to rely on his dependable hands and constant YAC (yards after catch) to help them earn a Monday Night Football win.

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