New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints
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New England
Patriots
(7-3)
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New Orleans
Saints
(10-0)
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Key matchup: RB Laurence Maroney vs. Saints run defense
 Maroney needs to have a solid game to help take the pressure of Patriots QB Tom Brady. Good thing he’s been playing well. In the Patriots previous five games, Maroney has rushed for 356 yards and six TDs. The Saints run defense is ranked 19th in the NFL.
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Key matchup: Saints secondary vs. WRs Randy Moss/Wes Welker
 The New Orleans pass defense has been one of the best in the NFL this season and if they can play that way on Monday night, they should stay undefeated. On the year, New Orleans has only allowed nine TD passes and has intercepted 20.
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Weather report: This game will be played in a dome, so weather will not be a factor.
Xavi's Forecast: In complete contrast to the Sunday night game, this would be the week you might want to consider bench both of these defenses. The Saints undefeated Saints are at home and we all know how potent that offense is. Patriots QB Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick get anbother shot to take down an undefeated team. They also return to the Superdome for the first time since their first Super Bowl win and you better believe they’re going to be psyched – especially after what they did to the Jets last week.
2009 Regular season rankings:
Patriots defense: Total (6th), rushing (14th), passing (6th)
Saints offense: Total (1st), rushing (5th), passing (6th)
Patriots offense: Total (2nd), rushing (15th), passing (2nd)
Saints defense: Total (17th), rushing (19th), passing (16th)
FOX Sports Power Rankings:
Patriots: No.4
Saints: No.1
Injury report: OUT: RB Fred Taylor (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: WR Sam Aiken (hip), LB Eric Alexander (groin), TE Chris Baker (shoulder), LB Tully Banta-Cain (groin), DT Ron Brace (ankle), S Patrick Chung (head), WR Julian Edelman (forearm), DE Jarvis Green (knee), T Nick Kaczur (ankle), C Dan Koppen (knee), T Matt Light (knee), RB Sammy Morris (knee), G Stephen Neal (head), LB Rob Ninkovich (knee), T Sebastian Vollmer (head), DT Ty Warren (ankle), LB Pierre Woods (groin). PROBABLE: QB Tom Brady (right shoulder), CB Shawn Springs (knee), TE Benjamin Watson (knee). SAINTS: DOUBTFUL: WR Lance Moore (ankle), CB Tracy Porter (knee). QUESTIONABLE: RB Reggie Bush (knee), CB Randall Gay (hamstring), C Jonathan Goodwin (ankle), CB Jabari Greer (groin), DE Bobby McCray (knee, back), LB Jonathan Vilma (knee). PROBABLE: G Carl Nicks (illness).
Shaw's analysis: I don't expect this to be as close as people are expecting. The Saints are simply the better all-around team. They have a better defense, a more consistent offense, and home field advantage doesn't hurt. I would love for the Pats to go for it on fourth down.
Marc Lawrence: NO -- Saints stay unbeaten - by a whisker.
Gonos' Fantasy Four Downs:
- The battle between the two highest drafted quarterbacks in fantasy this season on Monday Night Football! How many fantasy games are going to be decided with this game, considering how many fantasy starters are on both teams? The Saints DST has been the difference in recent weeks though.
- Pierre Thomas has been the between-the-20s guy, while Mike Bell is getting the goal-line work. With Reggie Bush (knee) expected to be back in action this week, Bell’s touches will decrease considerably.
- Over the past three weeks, Randy Moss and Wes Welker are the top two targeted receivers in the NFL.
- Laurence Maroney has scored at least one touchdown in each of his past five games, dating back to Week 6. With six rushing TDs in that span, he’s tied for second only to Maurice Jones-Drew (eight).
All games in this series since 1992
NEW ORLEANS is 4-1 against the spread versus NEW ENGLAND since 1992
NEW ENGLAND is 3-2 straight up against NEW ORLEANS since 1992
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1992
Games over the last 3 seasons
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
All games played at NEW ORLEANS since 1992
NEW ORLEANS is 1-0 against the spread versus NEW ENGLAND since 1992
NEW ENGLAND is 1-0 straight up against NEW ORLEANS since 1992
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1992
Games played at NEW ORLEANS over the last 3 seasons.
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period
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David
Gonos
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Dwyne Philippin
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Will
Althoff
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Sid Rosenberg
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Rob
Shaw
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Marc Lawrence
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Editorial Staff
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Daniel
Dobish
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