New Orleans Saints

Saints at Chargers: Game preview, odds, prediction

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New Orleans Saints will travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers on Sunday, with the Saints looking for their first win of the season.

Way back in 2001, the San Diego Chargers made Drew Brees their second round selection in the NFL Draft. A few years later, the team drafted Philip Rivers, making Brees expendable when he hit the free agent market in 2005. Fast forward 11 years and Brees will be back in San Diego, this time as a member of the New Orleans Saints.

Rivers is still the quarterback of the Chargers, and he has put together a fine career for the Bolts. One of the more prolific passers in the AFC for most of his career, Rivers has been the face of the franchise since running back LaDainian Tomlinson left for the New York Jets. His Chargers come into Sunday’s match-up with the Saints at 1-2 but could easily be undefeated on the young season.

In Week 1, the Chargers blew a 24-3 lead against the Kansas City Chiefs on the road. After trouncing the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, San Diego once again blew a lead in Week 3, as the Indianapolis Colts rallied back to defeat them in the fourth quarter. The Chargers have been bitten by the injury bug already this season, losing wide receiver Keenan Allen and linebacker Manti Te’o for the year.

The Saints head into Sunday looking for their first win after being drubbed by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football in Week 3. Drew Brees and company have been very inconsistent through the first three games of the season, as they have yet to put a complete game together. One week the offense plays well and the defense does not, while the next week it is the reverse.

More NFL coverage from FanSided

Each team’s best draft pick of all-time

Heisman winners with best NFL careers

30 best NFL coaches of all-time

Odds

Line: SD (-3.5)

Over/Under: 53.5

New Orleans should be able to put a solid game together against the Chargers, who are also looking for their own identity. Brees is going to be fired up to play against the Chargers, and is going to do anything in his power to avoid an 0-4 start to the season. They play in a very winnable division, so a few good games in a row can get them right back into the race.

Philip Rivers is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he has a competitive fire that in almost unmatched in the league. This game is going to be a shootout, but the Saints may have too many weapons for the Chargers to stop. The defenses for both teams are going to be tested early and often, but in the end, Brees leaves San Diego with a victory.

Pick: Saints 31 Chargers 27