Saints second-year wide receiver Brandin Cooks electrified the home crowd with 117 yards on just four catches in defeat last week.
Anticipate another solid performance against Houston as New Orleans tallies its first preseason win.
ODDS
The New Orleans Saints are 3.5-point favorites over the Houston Texans with a total of 44.
Both of the Saints preseason games have had at least 50 points scored while the Texans play their first road game and both of their games have stayed under 34 points.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Behind near-flawless play from quarterback Drew Brees, New Orleans scored on each of its first three possessions and jumped out to a 15-0 lead last week versus New England.
Brees passed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, and backup Luke McCown also led a touchdown drive with the No. 1 offense. Ryan Griffin outplayed rookie Garrett Grayson last week and Griffin appears to be the No. 3 quarterback and may mop up this week.
Texans coach Bill O’Brien applauds the consistency and composure that Brian Hoyer exhibited during his highly-competitive nearly four-month quarterback competition with Ryan Mallett.
Hoyer was named the opening week starter and will play at least a half against the Saints with Mallett No. 2 and Tom Savage mopping up.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
New Orleans came out aggressive and intense in last week’s game, and the dress rehearsal this week should carry over for the first team offense. The passing offense utilized screens, double moves and multiple throws to running backs, while the defense revealed a bit more of Rob Ryan’s exotic blitz package than it did a week ago.
Regardless of the importance of preseason games, coach Payton is too competitive and wants his team to taste their first victory this week.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I feel as good throwing the ball as I did in a long time. Everybody deals with issues throughout the season. I had that injury in the preseason last year with the oblique, and I had something during the season that I was battling. At times, maybe I got away from my fundamentals and mechanics." - Drew Brees following the Patriots preseason game
“Some people say I shouldn’t even be here,” Hoyer said. “Undrafted. Cut. Torn ACL. Benched. I have dealt with a lot of adversity. And trust me, it’s not easy. It’s not like a freakin’ walk in the park. But I think it makes you mentally stronger.” – Brian Hoyer on his tough voyage to become a No. 1 QB in this league
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
The Saints worked on their two-point conversions last week, but there is still a kicker competition between Dustin Hopkins and Zach Hocker.
INJURIES
Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is out with a knee injury until the regular season and left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo will sit out again with an ankle injury.
Thirteen Saints players missed the New England game with injury, including the Saints' entire starting defensive secondary.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Saints are 0-2 with a pair of close, high-scoring losses by two and three points.
But the starters got off to a scorching start last week with the offense and defense dominated the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots for the better part of the first half in building a 15-0 lead. The inspired New Orleans defense played without its entire starting secondary and forced Tom Brady and the Patriots first team offense to three consecutive three-and-outs to open the game.
The starters will go longer this week and we anticipate them building and holding the lead this time around against the Texans.
New Orleans 24, Houston 13
BookMaker opened the spread for this Sunday game at -3.5 in favor of the Saints. The NFL odds total surfaced at 44. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints will take place Sunday, August 30, 2015, at 4:00 p.m. ET at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The contest will be broadcast regionally on FOX.
