By: JessLander, YawkeyTalkies Editor

This could be the biggest game of the season. After the Colts debacle, the Patriots have one more chance to really make a statement. One more chance to show the NFL the type of team they can be. To show they are true Super Bowl contenders.

In debatably the best MNF game this season, that Patriots (7-3) will take on the undefeated New Orleans Saints (10-0) and attempt to stop another team from having a perfect season, a feat only they have accomplished.

How they match up:

Going against the Patriots is having to play this game on the road, where they are only 1-3 this season, however they are 4-0 at the Superdome in New Orleans. They have also won the last three meeting against the Saints.  But, the Saints are a new team this year, and making winning look easy, for nine of the Saints ten wins were won by more than a touchdown. New Orleans has outscored New England by 79 points, but the Patriots defense is definitely superior and has held opponents to 40 less points than the Saints.

Quarterbacks: Drew Brees has completed 218 passes with 22 TDs, a 68 percent completion rating and nine interceptions. Tom Brady has completed 261 passes with 20 TDs, a 66.4 percent completion rating and just six interceptions. The two match up pretty closely, but I have to say that I think Brady has the edge. These are the kind of situations Brady dominates in. And if he hadn’t needed a few games to get back to his old self earlier this season, his stats would be flying past Bree’s.

Offense: Randy Moss, is second in the NFL for receiving, catching 63 passes for 925 yards and converting that into eight TDs. Not far from Moss’ caliber is Wes Welker who has caught a league leading 79 passes for 854 yards with four TDs. New Orleans is definitely lagging behind with their best receiver being Marques Colston who has caught 44 for 687 yards and six TDs. However, New Orleans does get most of its results from the running game and has a wide array of scorers. RBs Pierre Thomas with six TDs and Mike Bell with four have both rushed over 500 yards. Reggie Bush with five TDs is also expected to be back from injury this week. The Patriots will still be missing Fred Taylor, but do have Maroney who has also tallied six TDs this season.

In summary, the Patriots are superior to the Saints in defense, passing, and receiving. But, the Saints’ running game is dangerous, making for a close game, certainly much closer than New Orleans’ other meets this season. It’s a tough call, but comment your predictions for the game below.

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