Whew, that’s daunting. The New Orleans Saints and the Cincinnati Bengals have achieved the same mediocre 2-3 record going into their Week 6 clash, but the experts don’t think this one will be close. Per surveying of national media outlets and fan blogs around the league’s orbit at NFL Pickwatch, an overwhelming majority of expert picks (87%) are coming in for the visiting Bengals, not the home-underdog Saints (just 13%).
Unfortunately, it’s easy to see why this is so lopsided. Injuries have decimated the Saints, almost literally — 14 of the 53 players on their active roster were listed on the injury report this week, with non-participants including wide receivers Michael Thomas (foot), Jarvis Landry (ankle), and Deonte Harty (foot) as well as top cornerback Marshon Lattimore (abdomen) and backup defensive end Payton Turner (chest).
