Browns vs. Saints Week 9 Preview: Saints Favored at Home With Deshaun Watson Out

The New Orleans Saints (2-5) host the Cleveland Browns (5-3) in Week 9 on Sunday, and the home team will take the field as a 3-point favorite in the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. New Orleans has won only one of its last five games, but a positive result may be within reach with Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson unavailable due to a concussion.

The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, entered Week 9 of the 2026 season on a 60-51 run on top-rated picks dating back to 2024. The model is up more than $5,000 for $100 players on those top-rated selections since its inception, and anyone who has followed its picks could have seen strong returns.

Saints fans have not had much to celebrate this season. Second-year quarterback Tyler Shough has shown himself to be a capable signal caller, but the pieces around him have fallen short on both sides of the ball. The New Orleans defense is allowing 27.7 points per game, the fourth most in the league, which has placed serious pressure on an offense that has been middling at best.

Cleveland's winning record may not be as solid as it looks, and signs point to regression. Three of the Browns' victories have come against weakened opposition in Tampa Bay, Tennessee and a Baltimore team playing without Lamar Jackson. The defense has been merely fine, while the offense has managed only 17.4 points per game.

That offense will now be directed by backup quarterback Shedeur Sanders with Watson sidelined, adding another layer of uncertainty for a unit that has already struggled to score.

Both teams have been uneven for bettors this season. Cleveland is 5-3 against the spread and 4-4 to the Over, while New Orleans sits at 3-4 against the spread and 4-3 to the Over.

Notably, the betting line barely moved when news surfaced that Watson was unlikely to play on Sunday, an indication that oddsmakers had already anticipated his absence. The veteran has not exactly been impressive this season, a reflection of how willing the Browns are to hand the offense to Sanders in a difficult spot.

The pick here is the Saints money line. It is a hefty price, but the SportsLine Projection Model believes the juice may be worth the squeeze, with New Orleans winning in 61% of the model's simulations.