NFL Odds - Saints vs. Bears

What looked when the NFL schedule came out as a key Week 17 game instead is meaningless for one team and could be for the other.

The 7-8 New Orleans Saints, who still have faint playoff hopes, travel to Chicago to face the eliminated 6-9 Bears in a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game won by Chicago. This time, New Orleans is a 2-point favorite on WagerWeb.com with an over/under of 40.

New Orleans must win this game and have Washington and Minnesota lose later in the day to earn the final NFC wild-card spot. The Bears were eliminated two weeks ago.

"It's unfortunate, the seasons we've both had. The expectations for both of us were much higher than it what it turned out to be. But the fact is we still have an opportunity," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said.

The fact New Orleans still has a pulse after an 0-4 start says something.

Brees threw nine interceptions and just one TD pass in that 0-4 start. Since then, he's hit for 24 TDs with just seven interceptions.

Brees became the 12th player in NFL history with multiple 4,000-yard passing seasons. He is completing a career-best 68.6 percent of passes and is 10 completions away from the NFL single-season record (Rich Gannon with 418 in 2002).

Look for Brees to look often to star WR Marques Colston, who has a team-high nine TD catches. Colston left last week's game in the first half with a chest contusion that had him spitting up blood but is expected to start.

However, New Orleans' backfield will be missing some key pieces on Sunday.Reggie Bush sat out practice on Friday, and the Saints listed him as out for the game. Bush has practiced just once during the past two weeks as he attempts to recover from a partial tear of the posterior cruciate
ligament in his left knee. He could possibly return for a playoff game.

Aaron Stecker, who started for Bush during the Saints' past three games, also has missed practice this week with a sprained toe. He was excused from practice on Friday because of a death in the family and was listed as questionable.

Pierre Thomas, an undrafted rookie, is expected to start at running back for the Saints.

Chicago's run defense has struggled all season and is currently ranked 24th in the NFL, allowing 124.1 yards per game. The Saints' run defense is coming off a bad game, allowing a season-high 184 yards on 28 carries last week against the Eagles.

Chicago's run game is second-worst in the league, however, with 1,237 yards. Adrian Peterson did run for 102 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries last week vs. Green Bay.

Kyle Orton (285 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) will make his third start in Sunday's finale. In his first two starts this season, he has a 71.4 quarterback rating.

Last week against Green Bay, Orton passed for 101 yards and had a three-yard touchdown to tight end Desmond Clark.

Prediction: The Bears will stay conservative under Orton and run the ball all day, while Brees will try to throw the Saints to victory. Take the team that needs it more. New Orleans 24, Chicago 17.

Betting Trends

The Saints are 6-9 ATS.
The Saints are 4-3 ATS away.
The Saints are 5-8 ATS as the favorite.
The Saints are 3-2 ATS as an away favorite.
The Bears are 6-9 ATS.
The Bears are 2-5 ATS at home.
The Bears are 4-4 ATS as the underdog.
The Bears are 1-1 ATS as a home underdog.

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