2023 NFL Preseason: New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers

By Sam Batz

When: Sunday, August 20th at 7:05 PM EST

Where: SoFi Stadium

Watch On: *ABC/*CBS/*FOX/*NBC/NFL Network (*depending on area)

Matchup: New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Chargers

The New Orleans Saints are gearing up to take on the Los Angeles Chargers in a Week 3 preseason matchup. Both the Saints and the Chargers won their preseason openers, each recording over 300 yards from scrimmage. Preseason wins may seem pointless or unsubstantial, but in reality a successful preseason can help build a team’s confidence before the regular season begins, meaning both the Chargers and Saints will look to keep their undefeated streak alive in order to keep morale high.  

The New Orleans Saints (-4; -190)

The New Orleans Saints looked great in their preseason opener. The Saints newly appointed head coach, Dennis Allen, gave the team’s newly appointed starting quarterback, Derek Carr, some much needed reps with his new team. Carr went 6/8 for 70 yards and a touchdown, and is likely to see some first quarter snaps on Sunday. Jameis Winston, the first-overall pick from 2015, also saw the field, going 11/13 for 92 yards and a touchdown, before letting third stringer Jake Haener, who went 10/17 for 105 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 interception, take the reins on offense. In the preseason a good quarterback can dominate, and with all 3 New Orleans QB’s playing well, they’ll be tough to beat on Sunday. 

The Los Angeles Chargers (+4; +160)

The Chargers are coming off a disappointing season in 2022. They finished 10-7, which was good enough to make the playoffs, but blew a 27-point lead to the Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Round, leaving LA with a terrible taste in their mouths. The Chargers won their preseason opener 34-17, getting it done on the ground with 214 rushing yards, and saw a decent game from backup quarterback Easton Stick, who went 14/21 for 109 yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions. Rookie QB out of TCU, Max Duggan, saw a few snaps but wasn’t on the field long enough for fans to get a clear picture of what the 22-year old will bring to the table. On the other side of the ball, LA’s defense gave up 191 yards to Rams rookie QB Stetson Bennett, suggesting the Chargers will likely struggle against New Orleans’ arsenal of quarterback talent.  

Saints vs. Chargers: Odds 

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Saints vs. Chargers: Preseason Stats

Saints vs. Chargers Prediction

Take the New Orleans Saints to beat the Chargers on Sunday. The preseason is a fickle beast, but with two veteran quarterbacks (Jameis Winston & Derek Carr) likely to get substantial playing time for the Saints, I like New Orleans in this one. Despite the victory, the Chargers struggled to keep Rams QB Stetson Bennett in check, and will likely falter against the New Orleans veterans under center. The Chargers ran all over their opponents in their preseason opener, but the Saints gave up just 83 rushing yards in their first game, and I expect New Orleans to once again keep their opponents running backs in check. 

Prediction: New Orleans Saints Moneyline (-190)

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