It’s near-desperation time for the Seattle Seahawks as the 2-4 club remains without star QB Russell Wilson on Monday night against the visiting New Orleans Saints to conclude NFL Week 7.

The Saints 4.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 43.5.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

For the past several years, Saints-Seahawks would have been a marquee matchup of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in New Orleans’ Drew Brees and Seattle’s Russell Wilson, but of course Brees retired this off-season and Wilson is out until at least Week 10 with a finger injury.

Seattle has never finished with a losing record since drafting Wilson in 2012 but that’s definitely in play now with the club at 2-4 and an underdog Monday. It could be this is Wilson’s final season with the team as he nearly forced his way out this summer.

The all-time series between the Saints and Seahawks is tied 8-8 including playoffs. The teams last played in 2019 and New Orleans won 33-27 in Seattle in Week 3. Brees was out injured that day and Teddy Bridgewater (now with Denver) threw for two scores. Alvin Kamara rushed for one and caught a TD. Wilson threw for 406 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two. Tyler Lockett had 11 catches for 154 yards and a TD.

The underdog is 4-1 against the spread in the past five meetings.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints come out of their bye at 3-2 and second in the NFC South. It’s hard to get a read on this team considering it has won impressively over Green Bay and New England but lost to Carolina and the New York Giants. Coach Sean Payton isn’t asking new starting QB Jameis Winston to throw all that much with 116 attempts in five games. He’s completing 60.3 per cent for 12 TDs and three picks. Winston has yet to have star receiver Michael Thomas, the former NFL Offensive Player of the Year, due to injury but he’s available to come off injured reserve this week. Alas, it doesn’t sound like Thomas is ready yet off ankle surgery.

A whopping eight starters have missed most of the season already. Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz is also eligible to be activated and is expected to be. The team needs Lutz as the two kickers it has used thus far are 1-for-4 on field goals and also have missed two extra points. A handful of other injured starters also are likely to return. The Saints are 17-7 ATS in their past 24 as road favourites.

Seattle Seahawks

QB Russell Wilson missed the first start of his career last Sunday night and Seattle lost 23-20 in overtime at Pittsburgh. Journeyman Geno Smith wasn’t bad in throwing for 209 yards and a TD, but he fumbled on a sack in overtime that led to the winning field goal – although it was hardly Smith’s fault. With Smith, Seattle just doesn’t have a deep downfield passing game. WR Tyler Lockett, who had a huge start to this season with Wilson, had just two catches for 35 yards. Seattle did reach out to Cam Newton but apparently didn’t think it was a fit.

Running back Alex Collins, starting for the injured Chris Carson, had 101 yards and a TD on 20 carries but suffered an injury and is in question. Fellow running back and former first-round pick Rashaad Penny (calf) will be activated from injured reserve this week and might be thrown right into the featured role. Seattle’s defence continues to rank last in the league in allowing 433.2 yards per game but was better vs. Pittsburgh. The Seahawks are 13-5 ATS in their past 18 as underdogs.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Saints vs. Seahawks?

• Regular Season

Saints Team Leaders

NO

Touchdowns	Alvin Kamara 7
Rushing	Alvin Kamara 530
Passing	Jameis Winston 1170
Receiving	Alvin Kamara 32
Sacks	Marcus Davenport 5.5
Interceptions	P.J. Williams 3

SEA

Touchdowns	DK Metcalf 8
Rushing	Alex Collins 395
Passing	Russell Wilson 2042
Receiving	Tyler Lockett 57
Sacks	Darrell Taylor 5
Interceptions	Quandre Diggs 4

• Regular Season

Seahawks Team Leaders

NO

Touchdowns	Alvin Kamara 7
Rushing	Alvin Kamara 530
Passing	Jameis Winston 1170
Receiving	Alvin Kamara 32
Sacks	Marcus Davenport 5.5
Interceptions	P.J. Williams 3

SEA

Touchdowns	DK Metcalf 8
Rushing	Alex Collins 395
Passing	Russell Wilson 2042
Receiving	Tyler Lockett 57
Sacks	Darrell Taylor 5
Interceptions	Quandre Diggs 4

Weather

temp	55
condition	light-rain
wind	South 17mph

Injuries

New Orleans

Deonte Harris (WR)

Elig Week 17 Suspension - 06 / 12 / 21

Cameron Jordan (DE)

Out indefinitely Illness - 06 / 12 / 21

Taysom Hill (QB)

Prob Sun Finger - 03 / 12 / 21

Juwan Johnson (WR)

day-to-day Neck - 02 / 12 / 21

Terron Armstead (T)

Ques Sun Knee - 29 / 11 / 21

Kaden Elliss (LB)

Ques Sun Hamstring - 29 / 11 / 21

Taysom Hill (QB)

Prob Thurs Foot - 29 / 11 / 21

Andrew Dowell (LB)

Prob Thurs Concussion - 25 / 11 / 21

Taysom Hill (QB)

Prob Thurs Foot - 24 / 11 / 21

Trevor Siemian (QB)

Prob Thurs Hand - 24 / 11 / 21

Seattle

Jamal Adams (S)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 05 / 12 / 21

Kyle Fuller (C)

Ques Sun Ankle - 05 / 12 / 21

Bryan Mone (DT)

Ques Sun Knee - 05 / 12 / 21

Cody Barton (LB)

Prob Sun Calf - 02 / 12 / 21

Alex Collins (RB)

Ques Sun Abdominal - 02 / 12 / 21

Kyle Fuller (C)

Ques Sun Ankle - 02 / 12 / 21

Gabe Jackson (G)

Ques Sun Knee - 02 / 12 / 21

DK Metcalf (WR)

Prob Sun Foot - 02 / 12 / 21

D.J. Reed (CB)

Prob Sun Knee - 02 / 12 / 21

Brandon Shell (T)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 02 / 12 / 21

Injuries

New Orleans

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deonte Harris (WR)	Elig Week 17	Suspension - 06 / 12 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Harris has been handed a three-game suspension for an off-field incident, and he is not eligible to return until Week 17 versus the Panthers.
Cameron Jordan (DE)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 06 / 12 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Jordan has been shuttled to the IR/COVID-19 list, and a date for his return has yet to be established.
Taysom Hill (QB)	Prob Sun	Finger - 03 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Hill sustained a right middle finger injury in the previous game, but he is likely to play against the Jets on Sunday.
Juwan Johnson (WR)	day-to-day	Neck - 02 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Johnson was removed from Thursday's game with a neck injury, and his return is in question.
Terron Armstead (T)	Ques Sun	Knee - 29 / 11 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Armstead sat out the previous game with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up Sunday against the Jets.
Kaden Elliss (LB)	Ques Sun	Hamstring - 29 / 11 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Elliss missed the previous game due to a hamstring injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active on Sunday versus the Jets.
Taysom Hill (QB)	Prob Thurs	Foot - 29 / 11 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Hill is bothered by plantar fascia, but it is anticipated that he will suit up in Thursday versus the Cowboys.
Andrew Dowell (LB)	Prob Thurs	Concussion - 25 / 11 / 21	0-3	1-2	+ -
Dowell left the previous game due to a concussion, but it is projected that he will suit up Thursday against the Cowboys.
Taysom Hill (QB)	Prob Thurs	Foot - 24 / 11 / 21	0-3	1-2	+ -
Hill is expected to face the Bills on Thursday despite a foot injury.
Trevor Siemian (QB)	Prob Thurs	Hand - 24 / 11 / 21	0-3	1-2	+ -
Siemian is projected to be available for Thursday's contest versus the Bills despite a right hand injury.

Seattle

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jamal Adams (S)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 05 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Adams was lifted from the last contest with a shoulder injury, and it is up in the air if he will face the Texans on Sunday.
Kyle Fuller (C)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 05 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Fuller was forced from the last game with an ankle issue, and it is uncertain if he will be active on Sunday versus the Texans.
Bryan Mone (DT)	Ques Sun	Knee - 05 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Mone was removed from the last contest due to a knee ailment, and it is unclear if he will line up against the Texans on Sunday.
Cody Barton (LB)	Prob Sun	Calf - 02 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Barton is expected to lace up against the 49ers on Sunday despite a calf injury.
Alex Collins (RB)	Ques Sun	Abdominal - 02 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Collins sat out the last game with an abdominal injury, and it is unclear if he will lace up against the Texans on Sunday.
Kyle Fuller (C)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 02 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Fuller is nursing an ankle injury, and it is uncertain if he will face the 49ers on Sunday.
Gabe Jackson (G)	Ques Sun	Knee - 02 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Jackson is nursing a knee injury, and it is up in the air if he will line up for Sunday's contest with the 49ers.
DK Metcalf (WR)	Prob Sun	Foot - 02 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Metcalf is hampered by a foot issue, but it projected that he will take the field against the 49ers on Sunday.
D.J. Reed (CB)	Prob Sun	Knee - 02 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Reed has a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will take on the 49ers on Sunday.
Brandon Shell (T)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 02 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Shell is dealing with a shoulder injury, leaving his status against the 49ers on Sunday clouded.