Bills Central

Josh Allen and Bills have whopping advantage over Saints in talent & travel

While the Buffalo Bills will have rested for 10 days before Sunday's home game against New Orleans, the Saints will have traveled 3,500 miles just to get to Highmark Stadium.
Richie Whitt|
Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) makes a throw in the second half against the Saints in 2021.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) makes a throw in the second half against the Saints in 2021. | Chuck Cook-Imagn Images

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The tired, trampled and travel-weary New Orleans Saints will fly approximately 3,500 this week. Their destination? A date Sunday afternoon with the hottest team in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills.

The rested and ready Bills — who will not have a played in 10 days after beating the Miami Dolphins — will be waiting at Highmark Stadium, looking to continue their perfect start and first 4-0 record since 2020. The Saints march in on the other side of the spectrum, 0-3 and coming off a 31-point trouncing at the hands of the Seahawks last Sunday.

MORE: With Josh Allen's help, is Bills' Joe Brady NFL's best offensive coordinator?

In the span of less than seven full days, the Saints will sojourn from Seattle to New Orleans to western New York.

The Bills are better. Their decided quarterback edge will be reigning MVP Josh Allen (who will be making his 114th career start) over the Saints' Spencer Rattler (who will carry an 0-9 record into his 10th start). They are more rested. And they're playing at home, where they are 16-1 since Joe Brady became Allen's offensive coordinator in the middle of 2023.

Add it all up and, sure enough, it's predicted to be the NFL's most lopsided mismatch of the season at a whopping 16.5 points. It is not even close to the largest betting spread in league history, as there have been at least 10 games featuring lines of 20+ points. The largest ever came in 2013 when the Denver Broncos were favored by 28 over the Jacksonville Jaguars but won only 35-19.

Still, this would be a colossal upset even if the Saints keep it competitive. Led by first-year coach Kellen Moore, at Seattle they missed a field goal, had a punt blocked, had another returned on them 95 yards for a touchdown and trailed 21-0 barely 10 minutes into the game.

MORE: Bills' QB Josh Allen grew up throwing rocks and emulating Aaron Rodgers

The Bills have scored 102 points in three games, which trailed only the Indianapolis Colts' 103 before Monday night's game between the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions. The Saints' defense, meanwhile, has surrendered 90 points for seventh-most in the league.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Bills safety Jordan Poyer (21) returns an interception against the Saints in 2021.
Bills safety Jordan Poyer (21) returns an interception against the Saints in 2021. | Chuck Cook-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.

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