Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints Pick & Prediction SEP 12TH 2021
Diego Garcia
The Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints get their respective 2021 NFL season kicked off on Saturday afternoon. The Packers come into the season with high hopes of getting to a Super Bowl.
With Aaron Rodgers behind center, that is something that is very possible for them this season. The Saints, on the other hand, are in a bit of a transition at the quarterback spot. Drew Brees has retired, and that has led to Jamies Winston taking the starting job. This is a game that has been moved from New Orleans to Jacksonville following Hurricane Ida, which will throw another wrinkle into the game.
Packers at Saints Betting Lines
TV: FOX
MONEY LINE: Packers (-200) vs. Saints (+160)
SPREAD: Packers -3.5 (-115) vs. Saints +3.5 (-107)
GAME TOTAL: Over 49.5 (-110) vs. Under 49.5 (-110)
Packers vs. Saints Betting Preview for NFL Week 1
The Packers lost in the NFC Championship last season and will be looking to improve on that success this season. The Packers are a playoff team every year, it seems, but they have run into issues in the playoffs in the past.
This year might be the year that they break out of their funk and win a Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers won the MVP last season, and there is no reason to think that he is going to take a step back this season. After requesting a trade during the offseason, Rodgers seems to have reconciled with the franchise and will be leading them for his 16th season.
It is always tough to replace a quarterback who has had the success that Drew Brees has had in his career. It is easier when you get to replace him with a quarterback with the experience of Jameis Winston.
The Saints return most of their roster from last season, which will make that transition a little bit easier. New Orleans also won a playoff game last season prior to getting beat by the Buccaneers in the Divisional Round last season. This is going to be a really good test for the Saints to open the season.
Packers vs. Saints Prediction for Week 1
I think the Packers have a really good chance at winning this game. The Saints were favored in this game last season by 3.5 points, and I don’t think that the loss of Brees flips that by a touchdown this season. The Saints have a really solid defense that could cause the Packers fits. I like the Packers to win, but the Saints could very easily walk out of Jacksonville with a win.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Packers beat the Saints last season 37-30.
2. Devante Adams is coming off a great season where he caught 115 passes in 13 games with 18 TD’s.
3. In Winston’s last year as a starter, his passer rating was 44.5, last in the league.
Best Bet: Packers -3.5 (-110)
I think the Packers will be able to win this game in Jacksonville, but I think that it will be closer than some people think. The Saints could come out ready to play and win, but I think that the Packers’ secondary will be able to shut down the passing attack with Michael Thomas out to start the season. I have the Packers winning this one 24-20.
Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints
Aaron Rodgers passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns as the visiting Green Bay Packers defeated the New Orleans Saints 37-30 on Sunday night.
Rodgers completed 21 of 32 attempts and remained interception-free on the season. One of his scoring passes went to Allen Lazard, who finished with 146 yards on six receptions.
Mason Crosby's 49-yard field goal broke a 27-all tie midway through the fourth quarter before Rodgers threw his third touchdown pass, a 1-yarder to Robert Tonyan with two minutes left. That gave Rodgers nine touchdowns during the Packers' 3-0 start.
Drew Brees completed 29 of 36 for 288 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Saints (1-2). Alvin Kamara caught two of Brees' touchdown passes and finished with 13 catches for 139 yards while adding 58 yards on six carries.
Wil Lutz's 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds left got New Orleans within seven points, but the ensuing onside kick failed.
The Saints led 17-13 at halftime, but on the first possession of the third quarter, Rodgers threw had a 72-yard completion to Lazard, setting up Aaron Jones' 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down.
Lutz's 35-yard field goal tied the score before Rodgers threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mercedes Lewis with 2:17 left in the third period.
Kamara caught a short pass from Brees and turned it into a 52-yard touchdown that tied the score at 27 in the final minute of the third quarter.
The Packers' first possession ended with the game's first points on a 52-yard Crosby field goal.
On the ensuing possession, Kamara's 49-yard run set up his 11-yard touchdown reception from Brees that gave the Saints a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Crosby kicked a 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter to get Green Bay within a point.
Rodgers' 48-yard pass to Lazard set up a 5-yard touchdown pass between the two for a 13-7 Packers lead.
Lutz kicked a 45-yard field goal and Brees threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders to give New Orleans a 17-13 halftime lead.
--Field Level Media
- NFL
