The New Orleans Saints have a winnable game coming up next, which is something that’s been said a little too often this season for a team that has struggled to reach a 3-4 record. But that’s behind them now. What’s important is that they take care of business against an overachieving Indianapolis Colts team that’s competing hard each week but still giving up tons of points and yardage defensively.
Do the Saints have it in them? Here are our staff picks for Week 8’s final score:
Colts 24, Saints 17
The Indianapolis Colts just scored 38 points against one of the best defenses in the NFL. They now match up against another one of the top defenses in the league. New Orleans will fare better on defense than the Browns did, but will still allow the Colts to cross the 20-point threshold. That will be too much as the Saints offensive struggles continue. — Darrion Gray
Colts 24, Saints 17
Generally speaking Gardner Minshew has had a solid enough start to being the Colts’ replacement quarterback, and with Jonathan Taylor back full-time, the Colts offense is still a formidable foe. After two shaky Saints defensive performances in terms of yards allowed, that could continue to leak into this game as well. While I predict the Saints offense to keep within one score, I do not believe they have what it takes to pull away with the lead. — Jeremy Trottier
Saints 27, Colts 21
Call me crazy, but I think the Saints offense bounces back with a surprise effort on Sunday. It was a mini-bye filled with emotion and Chris Olave’s off-field mistakes. Something has to give. If they don’t show a pulse now I don’t think they ever will. The Colts are not a bad team, but are near the bottom of the league in redzone defense. The Saints offense has driven down the field but haven’t been able to punch it in. That changes this week. — Dylan Sanders
Saints 17, Colts 14
The Saints are listed as one-point favorites as this one, appropriate for a game that should end up being that close. The Saints are still struggling to find consistency offensively and it’s perfectly reasonable to question if they ever will under Pete Carmichael. But, Alvin Kamara and a standout defensive effort get them over the hump here. Saints win it, 17-14. — Crissy Froyd
Saints 24, Colts 21
The Saints have had little trouble containing Minshew in his previous stops with the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars, and he’s still the same quarterback now. They should be able to sack him and take the ball away enough times to help their offense get in scoring position. Now that they’ve remembered Taysom Hill is an effective runner in the red zone, maybe he’ll be in line for more attempts against a Colts defense missing its best run-stopping defensive tackle with Grover Stewart suspended. — John Sigler
