Two teams on the opposite side of the current NFC playoff picture face off this week when the Detroit Lions visit the New Orleans Saints. Both squads have at least a share of first place in their divisions, making the Week 13 tilt a huge opportunity for both teams.
The Lions look like a sure thing for the playoffs with a two-game lead in the NFC North and are working to ensure a first-round home game. The Saints are 5-6 and tied for the NFC South lead — a division title is their only path to the postseason.
Both teams were upset as odds favorites last week and will look to avoid extending their losing streak another week. The Lions are the early favorite in this game and are 7-4 against the spread this season and 7-3 ATS as the favorite. Detroit was 7-2 ATS two weeks ago, but turnovers have plagued the Lions offense, and they have not covered in their last two contests. The Saints are 2-9 against the spread this season but did win outright in their only game as a spread underdog.
When looking at the total points, the Saints' games have hit the OVER in three of their last five, and Detroit's games have hit the OVER in four of their last five. Detroit's offense is dynamic, and aside from turnovers they score the ball at will. But their defense has struggled in recent weeks, leading to some very high-scoring games.
Live odds for Lions vs. Saints: NFL Week 13
Here are the moneyline, spread and total points live odds for the NFL Week 13 matchup between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints from the best online sportsbooks in the U.S.
More NFL betting: Top 5 NFL Betting Sites | Odds to win NFC Championship | Odds to make NFL playoffs
Detroit Lions betting news
The Lions may have a big problem on their hands if they are hoping to do more than just make the playoffs. If they want to win their first playoff game since 1993, they need Jared Goff to play like he did in the first 10 weeks of the NFL season when he completed 68.5% of his passes with no more than one turnover in any game.
Over the last two weeks, Goff has six turnovers and his completion percentage has dropped four points. The Lions quarterback threw three interceptions against the Bears but somehow managed to find a way to lead a game-winning drive. Then, last week, he lost three fumbles in a loss to the Packers. Detroit was lucky to beat the Bears and never had a chance against Green Bay.
Goff has made tremendous progress in Detroit and was starting to realize his potential as a former No. 1 overall pick. The last two weeks, though, Goff has looked more like he did during his last season in Los Angeles, which ultimately led to the Rams moving on at the quarterback spot.
Two weeks ago, Goff's play had the Lions talking about an offseason contract extension as next year will be Goff's last season under contract, most of which is non-guaranteed money. If he does not improve his play, not only will Detroit struggle to do much more than make the playoffs, but Goff will lose himself a lot of money. Leading Detroit to even just one playoff win likely gets Goff an offseason extension, making him one of the higher-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
New Orleans Saints betting news
The Saints have been through a very up-and-down season, much of it because of Derek Carr's injury struggles or his level of play when he has been on the field, which can be tied to his health. The season pattern has been: Carr is healthy, plays well, gets injured, and the team struggles without him. Then, when he returns from injury, it takes a game or two for him to return to form, then he gets hurt again.
If Carr is healthy and playing at his best, the Saints are the best team in the NFC South, and if they can keep their quarterback upright, they have the best chance to win the division of any team. They have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL over the next six weeks. The matchup with the Lions is coming at a good time, as the Detroit defense is dealing with some critical injuries and has given up 32.7 points per game over the last three weeks.
This game could be a great chance if Carr is fully healthy to get going again and build some confidence for him and his solid cast of playmakers. The Saints' defense is one of the better units in the league, and if the offense is simply average, they could be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
Lions vs. Saints player prop bets at FanDuel Sportsbook
Jared Goff prop bets
- 260.5 passing yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
- 1.5 passing touchdowns OVER (-118) / UNDER (-112)
Amon-Ra St. Brown prop bets
- 86.5 receiving yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Jahmyr Gibbs prop bets
- 46.5 rushing yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
- 26.5 receiving yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Sam Laporta prop bets
- 38.5 receiving yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
David Montgomery prop bets
- 62.5 rushing yards OVER (-114) / UNDER (-114)
Lions vs. Saints prediction: Quarterback play will decide which team bounces back
The Lions are one of the most talented teams in the NFL with an excellent coaching staff, and when playing at their best they could be a Super Bowl contender. If Jared Goff plays like he did in the first 10 weeks, the Lions will win, but if he plays like he did in the last two weeks, the Lions will lose.
Derek Carr will play well against a struggling Lions defense, and Goff won't be as bad as he has been recently, but it may take another week or two to get back to his peak form. That will lead to this game being very close, and the winner is hard to project. With some margin for error, though, expect the Saints to cover the spread as long as it is more than a field goal.
Pick: Saints
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