Saints @ Jaguars

Who will WIN this matchup?

New Orleans Saints (4-1)

@ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)

Current odds:

New Orleans Saints: (+130)

Jacksonville Jaguars: (-150)

• The line for this game is Jaguars by 3 points.

• The loss of Drew Brees to a thumb injury has not slowed the New Orleans Saints, who are sitting atop the NFC South with a 4-1 mark despite the absence of their future Hall of Fame quarterback. New Orleans has won three in a row behind backup Teddy Bridgewater and look to continue the momentum when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon. The Saints have leaned on their defense in the first two games without Brees before Bridgewater had his best game in last week’s 31-24 victory over Tampa Bay. “We’re getting back to playing confident, great football,” cornerback Eli Apple said. “It’s just about doing it four quarters, really finishing out, and that’s what we’re trying to emphasize this week.”

• The Jaguars, who have played three of their last four away from home, had a two-game winning streak halted last week in a 34-27 loss at Carolina, a division rival of New Orleans. “Consistency is the name of the game and we haven’t played very consistent,” Jacksonville defensive end Calais Campbell said. “We really put ourselves in bad positions and it’s cost us multiple times this season.”

• Bridgewater averaged only 185 yards passing in wins over Seattle and Dallas, but he matched his career high with four touchdown passes and finished with 314 yards against the Buccaneers. Aiding Bridgewater’s cause was Michael Thomas, who has a season-high 11 catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns and leads the NFL in both receptions (45) and receiving yards (543). Alvin Kamara, who tops the team in rushing with 342 yards and is the team’s second-leading receiver, was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice due to an ankle issue. New Orleans’ defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in an NFL-high 31 consecutive games and features a shutdown cornerback in Marshon Lattimore.

• Jacksonville will try to end the Saints’ rushing streak with a heavy dose of Leonard Fournette, who ranks third in the league with 512 yards and went over 100 in each of the past two games, including 225 in a Week 4 win at Denver. The Jaguars also are going with a backup since Nick Foles was hurt in Week 1, with rookie Gardner Minshew throwing for 1,279 yards and nine touchdowns versus one interception. “He’s smart,” New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. “He had that ability to make plays. You could tell he was a tremendous leader. All those intangibles.” Jacksonville’s defense could get a boost with the possible return of Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was limited in Thursday’s practice.

• Kamara has at least 100 yards from scrimmage in five of the last seven games.

• Jaguars WR DJ Chark leads the AFC in receiving yards (485) and touchdown catches (five).

• Saints DE Cameron Jordan has six sacks in his last six road games.