New Orleans Saints vs Cleveland Browns Week 16: Another Chance for QB Andy Dalton to Prove He Can Still Lead His Team to Wins

• The New Orleans Saints are coming off a Week 15 divisional win over the Falcons

• Cleveland Browns have gone under the total points line in all four of their last games

• Watch Saints vs Browns live on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, at 1:00 PM ET on CBS

Saints vs Browns Week 16 Odds

Saints vs Browns Week 16 Picks

POINT SPREAD: Cleveland Browns -3.0 (-110) at WynnBet

POINTS TOTAL: Over 31.5 (-112) at Unibet

PLAYER PARLAY: N. Chubb 100+ Rush Yds + T. Hill 1+ Rush/Rec TD (+400) at DraftKings

POINT SPREAD: Cleveland Browns -3.0 (-110) at WynnBet

This exciting NFL Week 16 interconference on-the-bubble showdown features the ‘mostly out of it’ 5-9 New Orleans Saints taking on the ‘remotest of playoff chances’ 6-8 Cleveland Browns, another chance for Saints QB Andy Dalton to prove he can still lead his team to wins as well as an opportunity for the up and down Browns to continue their win-out of the season keeping their playoff hopes barely alive.

According to the oddsmakers, the New Orleans Saints did not cover the spread in five of their last six road games, not to mention the favorites have won each of the Saints' last six matchups, so we like the Browns to cover this narrow spread at home in a game where they get to prove that they have fixed whatever has seemed to ail them on all three critical sides of the ball.

One factor that could help the Browns and hurt the Saints is how banged up New Orleans's defense is, with multiple linebackers on IR and three players listed as questionable – CB Marshon Lattimore (abdomen), DE Payton Turner (ankle), and S P.J. Williams (knee) – the perfect time for Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson to find a rhythm with his new offensive weapons.

POINTS TOTAL: Over 31.5 (-112) at Unibet

Each of the Cleveland Browns' last four games have gone under the total points line and one major reason for that is the slow start that returning QB Deshaun Watson has had after missing 700 days of NFL play in part due to his 11-game suspension for off-field behavior, his connection with his receivers along with his ability to scramble out of trouble making him a valuable part of OC Alix Van Pelt’s game plan.

Here is how these two teams break down in terms of scoring tendencies – the Saints' offense averages 20.4 points per game and the Browns' offense generates 22.4 points each week, that combined total of 44.8 well over what this bet allows, whereas their defenses together allow 45.8 points per week, all signs pointing towards the over on this Week 16 points total bet.

An exciting one-on-one matchup to watch for in this game might include Saints rookie receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, two speedy deep threats that use their speed to draw out the secondary to let slot man Jarvis Landry rule mid field, threats that Browns secondary (including rookie CB Martin Emerson and CB Denzel Ward) must guard against.

PLAYER PARLAY: N. Chubb 100+ Rush Yds + T. Hill 1+ Rush/Rec TD (+400) at DraftKings

For fans of both of the teams (or of neither), DraftKings offers an exciting Player Parlay in Week 16 that has bettors guessing whether a key playmaker from each side can accomplish something special, as in whether Browns RB Nick Chubb can post 100+ rushing yards while Saints RB / TE / WR / QB Taysom Hill must also either rush or receive for a touchdown.

Right now, Chubb is the third most productive RB in the league after carrying the ball 252 times for 1,252 yards and 12 TDs averaging 5.0 yards per carry, a hard-hitting tough to tackle 5’ 11” 227 pound former Georgia standout who will be facing New Orleans’ 24th ranked run defense that allows opponents to earn almost 133 ground yards per game, a good sign for this parlay.

The other part of this bet is almost a sure thing, with Hill a multi-purpose playmaker who plays a major role in Saints OC Pete Carmichael’s offensive game plan, so far this season with 68 carries for 449 yards and 5 TDs averaging 6.6 yards per carry while also catching 7 balls for 66 yards and 2 TDs, a wealth of production that New Orleans QB Andy Dalton leans heavily on.

How to Watch Saints vs Browns

• What: New Orleans Saints vs Cleveland Browns

• Where: FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH

• When: Saturday, December 24, 2022, at 1:00 PM ET

• How: CBS