Staff picks: Final score, bold predictions for Saints vs. Dolphins

How do you see this one playing out? The New Orleans Saints (2-9) are making a trip to South Florida to try and upset the Miami Dolphins (4-7) for their first game at Hard Rock Stadium since their 2009 Super Bowl win, but it won't be easy. It's been a rough year for Saints fans so far and this Dolphins team seems to be heating up at the right time, having won three of their last four games before a well-timed bye week. Now that they're rested up, Miami is going to try and win again in front of their home crowd. Can the Saints keep that from happening? Here are our staff picks for Week 13's final score with a couple of bold predictions.

Dolphins 27, Saints 20

This could be a close game and should be one that the Saints win. However, it's hard to imagine what's been a putrid New Orleans offense that's now shorthanded being able to put up enough points. As it is, it feels like a bold prediction just getting this team to the 20-point threshold. If New Orleans does pull out a victory, it'll be because of the defense. I just believe that De'Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle make just enough big plays to send the Saints to a loss. Bold prediction: Tyler Shough has his first career 300-yard passing game and leads a nice comeback that falls just short. -- Bob Rose

Dolphins 24, Saints 9

Last week’s game against the Falcons was a bit of a letdown for the Saints after they had started to build some much-needed momentum against Carolina. This week against Miami, I wouldn’t expect much of a difference. It doesn’t look like Alvin Kamara will play, and Chris Olave’s availability remains uncertain. As hard as it already is for this team to put points on the board, it doesn’t get any easier this week. Defensively, the Saints should be in for a serious test with Miami’s speed on offense. Playmakers like Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane can break one loose at a moment’s notice, and that doesn’t feel like a great matchup for a team that lacks speed at multiple levels. The only real path to a Saints win is controlling the time of possession and forcing Miami into long down-and-distance situations, making Tua Tagovailoa beat them in obvious passing downs, all while somehow finding a way to put points on the board themselves, which has already been difficult. All of that considered, I don’t expect the Saints to get this done on Sunday. I’ll take Miami by two scores. Bold prediction: De'Von Achane gains 200-plus yards from scrimmage. -- Luke Loffredo

Saints 17, Dolphins 17

That's right, a predicted tie between two teams that have a combined six wins on the season. The New Orleans Saints showed last week that they will play down to competition, and that their roster is just incapable of competing consistently. As for the Miami Dolphins, they are unbelievably streaky on defense, such is seen by getting blown out by the Cleveland Browns then holding the Atlanta Falcons to 10 the next week. Neither side is particularly good, to put things lightly. A tie could be in the making here with neither squad having much to fight for at this point in the season. Bold prediction: If predicting a tie wasn't bold enough, De'Von Achane sets a career high in rushing yards with more than 203 on the day.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Staff picks: Final score, bold predictions for Saints vs. Dolphins