New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland Browns December 24 Betting Preview

The Cleveland Browns (6-8) play host to the New Orleans Saints (5-9) this Saturday in an interconference matchup played at First Energy Stadium. This game is the last home game for the Browns while the visiting Saints are bracing for the harsh Lake Erie winter conditions. 

The Saints, who have been dealing with injuries this whole season, come into this game battling for their place in the NFC South lead. Coached by Dennis Allen, the Saints have been seriously underwhelming this year, which has put Allen’s job security in jeopardy.

 As for the Browns, head coach Kevin Stefanski has most likely missed the playoffs this season, but his focus remains on getting Deshaun Watson acclimated to playing in the AFC North conditions. 

The Favorite: Cleveland Browns -3

The Browns are coming off an energizing 13-3 win against the Baltimore Ravens, in which fans got to see a glimpse of what this team could be in the second half of the game. 

The Browns defense has severely held back the overall team success this year, but despite the injuries, this team showed resolve in a dominating defensive performance against the Ravens. Grant Delpit stepped up his play and has turned into the team's best run-stopper. 

Cornerback Denzel Ward also showed up with a huge interception, and safety John Johnson was able to force a fumble. On offense, Deshaun Watson started to look like the dual-threat QB the Browns traded their future for. The Browns offensive line is also getting some healthy players back as center Ethan Pocic was removed from IR. 

The Saints: +132

The Saints are coming off a 21-18 victory against the Atlanta Falcons, which keeps them alive at a very low standard NFC South race. 

The Saints, quarterbacked by Andy Dalton, are looking to win out to claim a division title. Unfortunately for the Saints, they have been faced with a litany of injuries. Wide receiver Chris Olave is questionable for this week's matchup, and to make matters worse, Jarvis Landry has been put on IR ending his season. 

This comes as a surprise as Jarvis Landry was set to make his homecoming debut against his former team at First Energy Stadium. The Saints will need to focus on running the ball and getting Andy Dalton quick and short passes that can drive them down the field. 

The under for this game sits at 32 (-110), which is very low for this matchup. The Saints special teams will need to capitalize on opportunities. 

The Saints defense is far more consistent than the Browns, and with the passing game being potentially limited due to weather, stopping a banged-up Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will be the primary focus. 

The Saints also made a pitch for Deshaun Watson this past offseason, so they are very familiar with his ability to run the ball on zone reads. If Kamara can get in the endzone first, the Saints would just need to focus on making stops. A win is doable, but the conditions favor the home team. 

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