Saints favored by more than a touchdown over Chargers

The New Orleans Saints are heavy favorites to beat the visiting Los Angeles Chargers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Monday Night Football

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The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers each scored 30-plus points in Week 4, but the oddsmakers at BetMGM Sportsbook project just one team to cross that threshold when they meet on “Monday Night Football” for Week 5.

Right now, the Saints are favored to defeat the visiting Chargers by 8 points. With an over/under set at 52.5, that suggests a final score in the realm of Saints 30, Chargers 22.

While rookie quarterback Justin Herbert impressed against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend, his team has scored just 20 and 16 points in his first two starts, and now he’ll be without leading rusher Austin Ekeler (who ranks third in targets for L.A.). That’s a matchup the Saints defense should win.

Meanwhile, the Saints offense has averaged 29 points per game and crossed the 30-point benchmark in each of their last two weeks. And they could welcome all-world wide receiver Michael Thomas back into the mix this week after his absence with an ankle injury. He’d be a big boost even with wideouts Emmanuel Sanders and Tre’Quan Smith starting to hit their stride.

It’s shaping up to be a critical game for this Saints season. If they can win big over the Chargers as the oddsmakers expect, it would send New Orleans into its Week 6 bye with a lot of positive momentum.

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