The New Orleans Saints have dropped five straight season openers, and while they should win this one straight up I still think the visiting Houston Texans will keep it close until the very end.

Houston's Deshaun Watson is coming off a big season, and the third-year quarterback should be even better and more mature this year. He has a reliable target in DeAndre Hopkins and talented running backs to hand over the ball to.

As for New Orleans, Drew Brees is back under center for his 19th season, and while he's surrounded by talent season openers are always a bit iffy. Brees won't have to worry about 2014 top overall pick Jadeveon Clowney who was traded to Seattle on Saturday, but Houston still has a tough defense. "We have a lot of guys out there," J.J. Watt said. "Obviously it's tough to lose a player like that, but we have a lot of guys out there than can step up can make plays."

The Saints meanwhile will open the season without two of their top interior defensive linemen as Sheldon Rankins (injury) and David Onyemata (suspended) will sit this one out.

10* play on Houston Texans.