Prediction: How will the Green Bay Packers fare In 2014?

Sept 30, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) meet on the field after the game at Lambeau Field. The Packers beat the Saints 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Week 8: Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints

A matchup of two teams expected to battle all season for the top spots in the NFC. Expect fireworks and huge plays to be rampant with two of the top QBs in the league leading a couple of the best offenses in the league. Don’t slack on the defenses either in the big-play department; both have previously been known for causing turnovers, and while that has tailed off more recently the secondaries each still boast players especially adept at doing so.

With an offense like New Orleans, there isn’t really a way you can expect to stop them; they are just that good. Brees has put up over a combined 10,000 yards in that past two seasons alone, which is insanity.

They have so many great options in the passing game and keep adding to their arsenal; Marques Colston is a very quality receiver with great size and skills and Kenny Stills is a second-year guy with potential, they just added Brandin Cooks in the draft in an offense perfect for his skills, and of course the top TE in the league in Jimmy Graham.

The run-game is a three headed attack of Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas; any name on its own probably doesn’t scare you, but as a group with each contributing to a certain role it can be hell to try keeping up with that array of talent being thrown at a defense. If the Packers are to have any chance of slowing this attack, Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers are going to be needed to garner consistent pressure and make their presence felt all game long.

Otherwise, this will be yet another game of points-in-bunches by that full-throttle offense.

The Saints defense meanwhile was able to recover from historically terrible levels to actually be pretty strong last season, with Rob Ryan making an impact with his 3-4 switch on D and three-safety lineups that helped create a lot more pressure and confusion for the opposition.

Adding in players like Jairus Byrd can only help make them even more dangerous, so it is no wonder they are considered a favorite to win the NFC and maybe also the Super Bowl. Green Bay has an offensive attack that should counteract a majority of what is thrown their way, but it is always risky business to get into shootouts.

Both QBs could easily garner 400+ yards while also having strong running game contributions, so the scoreboard will get plenty of work in a game that probably is decided by the team with final possession of the ball. That is a 50-50 proposition at best to predict. Both teams also don’t make a habit of turning the ball over, but have defenses that should be looking to make an impact in that way; expect one of them to indeed force a crucial possession-change at just the right time.

Will it be Green Bay? As much as I’d like that, the fact is that the Saints have a knack for winning despite just about any circumstance in their dome; it can seem like an impenetrable fortress to visitors. The extra crowd boost and a healthy dose of timing and home-team luck will probably mean it is New Orleans who would be the fortunate ones when the clock runs out.

New Orleans 44
Green Bay 38