Saints vs Seahawks Odds, Lines, and Picks for Week 7 Monday Night Football
- The New Orleans Saints go to Seattle to battle a Seahawks team fading in the NFC playoff picture
- Monday Betting Record: 0-0 ML; 2-4 ATS; 2-1 O/U; -1.815 units
- Check below for all the odds and trends for this MNF Week 7 clash
Among a crush of injuries and poor play, the Seattle Seahawks are in danger of letting this season slip away.
Their opponent Monday Night, the New Orleans Saints, are still trying to get healthy and figure out just who they are.
It makes for a strange Week 7 closer from Lumen Field in the Pacific Northwest, where the Saints are 4-point road favorites. Kickoff goes at 8:15pm ET, and can be seen on ESPN.
Saints vs Seahawks Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | -4 (-110) | -220 | O 42.5 (-110) |
| Seattle Seahawks | +4 (-110) | +180 | U 42.5 (-110) |
*Odds taken on Oct 24 from DraftKings.
With Russell Wilson still on the shelf after mangling his finger in a loss to the Rams, there’s literally no love for the Geno Smith-led ‘Hawks. A whopping 87% of the bets placed against the spread and 82% on the moneyline are on the Saints.
It could be a soggy one in Seattle. There’s a 90% chance of rain, with temperatures hovering around the low 50s, with 11mph winds gusting.
Who Dat Saints?
Turns out, having Hall-of-Fame quarterbacking covers a lot of your problems. For the Saints, their first year without Drew Brees has been uneven.
New pivot Jameis Winston has had some moments, but you can see that Sean Payton is still trying to get him to a level of consistent play where they can open up the playbook.
Jameis Winston's FIFTH TD pass of the day! 🔥
📺 NFL Game Pass | @Saints pic.twitter.com/U2WUBKAA3j
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) September 12, 2021
Through five games, with Winston starting the Saints are 31st in the NFL, averaging a paltry 169.4 passing yards a game.
This from a unit that lived in the top 10 over the previous 15 years, ranking first six times, and finishing outside the top 10 just twice.
Chase Young gets to Jameis Winston and forces the strip sack for the turnover. WFT takes over at midfield. pic.twitter.com/oxWarj7AW7
— Clayborne Taylor (@ClayborneTayl0r) October 10, 2021
One of the other points of concern, which could play a factor is the decline in NOLA’s offensive line play. According to PFF their 40% pressure rate ranks dead last in the NFL through six weeks. This was a unit that’s been top 10 in that category the last two years.
Winston, like every quarterback, struggles mightily when facing pressure.
Jameis to Deonte Harris for a 72 YARD TD 😳 (via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/E3ZDTJhyaa
— Overtime (@overtime) October 10, 2021
Still, the Saints are coming off a 33-22 win over Washington that had Winston throw for a season-high 279 yards and four TD strikes. It does help to have an all-world back in Alvin Kamara, too. He had 122 scrimmage yards against WFT, right around his average of 125.8 on the year.
Can ‘Hawks Stay Afloat?
There’s no timeline on Russell Wilson’s return, but injury reserve means Seattle’s pivot will be shelved for at least two more games. And for now, an offense being run by Geno Smith will have to get them through this rough patch.
At 2-4, Seattle is at the bottom of a brutal NFC West, and only the winless Lions and hapless New York Giants have worse records in the conference.
https://twitter.com/seahawksvideos/status/1449927410225324032
There were some positives in their 23-20 OT loss in Pittsburgh last week, but not enough to pull out a win.
The good news is backup Smith looked entirely serviceable after a brutal start to the game where they couldn’t get the anything going. He finished 23-for-32 for 209 yards and a touchdown.
TJ Watt recorded a 40% pass rush win rate tonight, per @SethWalder. He forced the game-winning fumble on Geno Smith, as the Steelers hold on for the overtime victory. The highest paid defensive player in the league is worth every penny.pic.twitter.com/8p0BfNKFl3
— Neer Ray (@NeerRayNFL) October 18, 2021
Smith did, however, cough up the football in overtime in field goal range, which led to the winning score. If Smith can get time, he’s got an incredibly talented duo in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett eager to make plays for him.
The defense also looked not awful. Playing at home and against a struggling Saints’ line, they may even be able to produce pressure and get some extra possessions for their offense.
Establish Alex Collins 😤 pic.twitter.com/U2ZXJJ0zGl
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) October 18, 2021
Another positive was the Seattle running game went somewhere it hadn’t gone since 2019: producing a 100-yard rusher in a game. Alex Collins turned the trick, though he’s batting a groin injury, and may be joining Chris Carson (neck) on the sideline. Thankfully, Rashad Penney has come off IR and can slot into the top spot.
Pete Carroll has begged for a running game. Without Russ, he needs it. Run D is a strength of the Saints, though, as they’re second in the NFL surrendering just 79 yards a game. The Hawks may have to throw to loosen up that D.
What’s the Best Bet?
It’s hard to lay a wager on Jameis Winston. As my colleague Eric Thompson points out, New Orleans has won the two games they were underdogs, while losing outright two times they were favored by a field goal or more. Usually, I would defer to the best player on the field and expect Kamara to lead the Saints to success, but I’m leaning towards the more desperate team here.
Here was OC Shane Waldron on what he learned about Geno Smith last week — his poise — and Rashaad Penny’s return from IR. pic.twitter.com/T0LlK3LIt4
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) October 22, 2021
A few more losses and the question won’t be when can Wilson return, but should he?
Expect Seattle to play its best game of the year, force Winston into some turnovers under pressure, and escape with a cover, and likely an outright win.
The Pick: Seahawks +4 (1.5 unit to win 1.86 units)
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
