While no decision will be made until later in the week, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that there is "not a great chance" that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees returns from multiple broken ribs to play in Sunday's potential Super Bowl 55 preview against Patrick Mahomes and the visiting Kansas City Chiefs. Thus, it should be Taysom Hill under center again, and New Orleans is a 3-point underdog on the William Hill Sportsbook NFL odds. Update: Brees now WILL play.
Brees hasn't played since leaving a Week 10 victory over the 49ers with the ribs injuries as well as a collapsed lung. The Saints were always going to play it cautious with the future Hall of Famer to ensure that he's healthy for the playoffs in what will likely be Brees' final season. Rapoport reported that Brees had "limited range of motion" in his last throwing session. He still hasn't practiced since the injury.
New Orleans had been 8-0 since last season without Brees as the starting QB, but that unbeaten streak ended last Sunday in a 24-21 upset loss at Philadelphia. Hill threw a pick and lost a fumble and turnovers have been a bit of a problem in his four starts as Hill has two interceptions and seven fumbles (three lost).
There is no talk that Jameis Winston might actually start vs. Kansas City, although Sean Payton said this week that Winston, who is on a one-year contract, will have a chance to compete for the team's starting job with Hill once Brees does retire. Then again, Winston might choose to sign somewhere else.
If Brees doesn't play Sunday, that could mean he will never face off against Mahomes in an NFL game unless it's in Super Bowl 55. Obviously, Brees will not be in the league in four years when the Saints would be scheduled to visit Kansas City.
Mahomes ranks No. 1 in NFL history in averaging 309.5 passing yards per game (minimum of 40 games), while Brees is No. 2 at 280.3. Brees has won seven NFL passing yardage titles but never a regular-season MVP Award. Mahomes is the clear favorite to win the 2020 passing yardage title as he has 4,208 yards and Deshaun Watson at No. 2 is well back at 3,761. Mahomes is also the -240 favorite at William Hill to win a second MVP Award.
While the Chiefs are -140 favorites at William Hill to win the AFC and the Saints are +275 second-favorites to win the NFC, SportsLine oddsmakers don't favor a Chiefs-Saints exact Super Bowl 55 matchup (see below). The last time a regular-season matchup was a preview of that season's Super Bowl was during the 2011 campaign when the Giants beat the Patriots in the regular season and SB XLVI.
Kansas City rather amazingly has failed to cover its past five games despite winning them all outright. The Chiefs haven't lost six straight games ATS since Week 10-15 in 2000.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Will Chiefs-Saints be the Super Bowl 55 matchup?
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