Arizona at New Orleans

New Orleans was an incredible team early in the season. They started 13-0 and were putting up numbers that rivaled the 2007 New England Patriots. But they simply peaked too soon. This team hung a 40 spot on four of their first six opponents, but didn't touch 40 the rest of the season. Their ensuing six games saw them in the 30s on five occasions as well, but since week 13, they have failed to even get to 27 over the last four weeks. The troubles actually started sooner than most think. After week six, the Saints went just 2-8 ATS! This is an offense that was lethal early in the season, but fell off after the mid-point in the season and dramatically in the last quarter of the season. Now, they must try to put it together after three weeks of not having any competitive action. The Arizona Cardinals are looking more and more like one of those teams that can flip the switch. They seem to fall asleep during the season in an easy division, but now two years in a row they have risen vs. the top teams. We saw it in the regular season a year ago at home vs. Dallas, and we saw it this year vs. Minnesota. Everyone is aware of what they did in the playoffs last year, and they did it again vs. Green Bay last week in what was the trap game of the week. The Cards are sensational underdogs as they are now a perfect 10-0 ATS in their last 10 posted in that role, and an even more amazing 8-2 straight-up as well! They have the experience and certainly have proven they can win playoffs games on the road, while the Saints have all the question marks here. Kurt Warner is as good as it comes in crunch time so there is no reason why he can't outperform the mighty Drew Brees here. The Cardinals will be playing the no-respect card as they did last week and I think it pays off. The Cards are 6-2 on the road this season, giving up just 17 points per game and they are 15-6 ATS now the past three seasons vs. winning teams including 8-1 ATS vs. the cream of the crop (teams at .750 or better). Give me the Cardinals and the points here.