If this game is anything like their last one, it will be the game of the week in week 5. These two teams met last November with the Redskins up 36-16 late in the fourth quarter. The Saints rallied, and won it in overtime. The players remember, the coaches definitely remember, and it should make for a solid Monday night contest.

Odds makers at Sports Interaction have marked down the Saints as 6.5-point favourites in this game.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The two teams played an overtime shootout style of game last November, and two years previous to that it was another high scoring game (Washington was victorious 47-14 back on November 15, 2015). There seems to be a trend happening here, in fact in their last five head-to-head matchups, the over is a perfect 5-0. To add to that, the Saints are 7-1-1 to the over in their last nine home games against teams with a winning record, and are 5-1 to the over in their last six games against the NFC. The Redskins have a good over history in the month of October. Last year in five October games, all five were over.

Washington Redskins

The bye week treated the Redskins very well; they got a chance to rest some injuries, and now find themselves in first place in the NFC East. Off season pick-up Alex Smith has been solid for his new team after making the move to Washington. Smith has thrown for 767 yards, four touchdowns, and only one interception. And speaking off what’s old is new again, veteran running back Adrian Peterson seems to have found the fountain of youth through the first three games of the season. Peterson has rushed for 236 yards (12th best) and three touchdowns. That’s 4.2 yards per carry.

Chris Thompson has been utilized well, with 20 receptions in the first three games of the year, and maybe the biggest team story, Tight End Jordan Reed has been healthy so far this season. The former All-Pro has fighting the injury bug the last number of years, and so far in 2018 has played in all three games, hauling in 14 catches and a touchdown. He’s been getting most of the reps with Vernon Davis subbing in at times.

New Orleans Saints

Brees has had another great start to the season, passing for 1295 yards (ranked 7^th) with eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. He has an NFL best 75.8 percent completion rating, and has engineered the team to a three game winning streak (3-1 overall) entering this Monday night encounter.

Receiver Michael Thomas has had a monster season with 42 catches for 445 yards in four games. Speaking off monster performances, Alvin Kamara is coming off a career-high 134 rushing yards, and three touchdowns versus the Giants this past Sunday. Kamara will welcome back his tag-team partner Mark Ingram who returns for a four-game suspension. When healthy, the tandem might be the best one-two punch in the offensive backfield.

Redskins vs. Saints Prediction