The Cincinnati Bengals came up just short last Sunday as Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker knocked through a field goal to guide the Ravens to a 19-17 home win. Cincinnati did not have wide receiver Tee Higgins for most of the game, and the Ravens were able to limit what Joe Burrow could do in the passing game much more effectively than they did last season. However, the Bengals were able to pound the ball on the ground with Joe Mixon and Samaji Perine – but the red zone proved to be too challenging. This week, the Bengals head down to New Orleans to face the Saints, who ended a three-game skid by winning a 39-32 track meet over the Seattle Seahawks. Which team will win? Don’t commit to any sports betting on this game until you read our preview.
NFL Preview: Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints
(Sunday, October 16)
When: Sunday, October 16, 2022, 1:00 pm ET
Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
TV: CBS
Radio: WLW 700 AM Cincinnati / WWL 870 AM New Orleans
Live Stream: Sling TV
NFL Odds: Cincinnati -2.5 / O/U 43.5 // Cincinnati -125 / New Orleans +105
Why should you bet on the Bengals?
Joe Burrow has a 9:5 TD:INT ratio, but that’s a bit misleading, because four of those came in Week 1 against Pittsburgh. Tyler Boyd leads the team wit 15 catches, while Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase have four touchdowns and 658 receiving yards between them. Joe Mixon is doing enough on the ground to give the Cincinnati offense some balance, but the Bengals need to figure out how to score in the red zone.
The Bengals’ defense has kept the team in games, permitting just 17.5 points per game. Vonn Bell has three interceptions through five games, putting him on pace for 10 for the season. Logan Wilson is the top tackler with 33, and Trey Hendrickson leads the defense with 2 ½ sacks. For sports bettors, the Bengals have been a lock for almost a whole season now, covering in 11 of their last 13 games. On the road, they have covered in seven of their last eight. If you like Cincinnati, you see them taking advantage of the large number of injuries on the Saints’ roster – and you see them keeping a better eye on Taysom Hill than Seattle did last week.
Why should you put your money on the Saints?
Jameis Winston returned to practice this week for the Saints, although his role was limited, so we could see Andy Dalton starting yet again. Taysom Hill, who accounted for four touchdowns last week (three on the ground and one on a trick-play pass), was also limited with a rib injury. Beating Seattle gave the Saints just two wins in their last seven home games. However, with Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave all either out of practice or limited, the wide receiver group faces some real challenges this week.
On defense, the Saints have been serviceable, permitting just 22.7 points per game, but they gave up 32 against Seattle. Interestingly, Week 6 has been good for New Orleans bettors, as they have covered in four straight Week 6 contests. However, they have only covered once in their last five meetings with the Bengals.
Final Score and Prediction
New Orleans has a solid run defense, but having Marshawn Lattimore either injured or limited will take a heavy toll as the game goes on. The “under” has paid in five of the last seven Saints’ home games, and it has paid in 10 of the Bengals’ last 11 games as well. Cincinnati should be able to manage a New Orleans offense riddled with injuries, and Burrow should find more receivers down the field than he did last week. I predict a final score of Cincinnati 27, New Orleans 13.
NFL Betting Odds
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