Green Bay Packers – New Orleans Saints
USA - NFL
Many wondered how the transition would go after Aaron Rodgers' departure to the New York Jets, but the first impression is that the future of the Green Bay Packers looks bright. Young quarterback Jordan Love has been very good in both previous games and seems like someone who will be the face of the franchise in the next decade. After a convincing win in Chicago (20:38) in the opening week, they were defeated in Atlanta by 25:24 even though they led 12:24 at the start of the final quarter. It's worth noting that the Packers were without four of their top five players, so the fact that they were close until the end speaks volumes. Running back Aaron Jones will be on the field on Sunday, and it is expected that the primary receiver Christian Watson will make his debut.
This will provide more firepower to the Packers' offense, which looked solid even without them.
The New Orleans Saints are 2-0 after two weeks, although they won both games in close finishes. They defeated the Tennessee Titans by 16:15 thanks to incredible mistakes by the opposing quarterback Ryan Tannehill. After that, they outplayed the Carolina Panthers at road (17:20). The problem for the Saints is that their running game is terrible. Superstar and starting running back Alvin Kamara is suspended and will miss this game in Green Bay as well. His backup, Jamaal Williams, is also injured and likely won't be able to help the team on Sunday. This means that the Saints will play with their third running back, which will further complicate things. Derek Carr is definitely an upgrade from last year's quarterbacks, but he is still far from his best form. It's clear to everyone that the Saints' defense is a much better part of this team, and to win games, they need to do their job.
The Green Bay Packers have one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL. The atmosphere at Lambeau Field is always excellent, and since this is the first home game of the season, it will surely be even more electrifying. Jones' return and probably Watson's presence will further enhance an offense that has already shown it can produce results even without Rodgers. The Packers' defense is not impressive, but knowing that the Saints are not a threat in the running game will make it much easier to prepare for the game and stop wide receiver targets like Chris Olave and Michael Thomas. The Packers are a better-coached team than the Saints, playing at home, they will have a more diverse offense, and the defensive advantage the Saints have should not come into play this time.