Green Bay Packers vs. N.O. Saints: Lombardiave staffers predict
Here we are heading into the Green Bay Packers Week 8 matchup against the NFC South Division New Orleans Saints … and with it comes Lombardiave.com staffers predictions.
Take a look below and don’t forget to leave your own predictions in the comments section below, Like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter …
Josh McPeak
Josh McPeak: The Saints are in somewhat of a desperate situation though it doesn’t look like it will take much to capture the NFC South crown this year.
The South is shaping up to finish about like the North did just a year ago.
I don’t think these two teams could come into this game on opposite ends of the spectrum as Green Bay is scorching hot on a four-game winning streak. The Superdome aspect of this game takes the easy win out of the scenario, however.
Aaron Rodgers has 18 touchdowns on the season compared to only 1 interception. The NFC Offensive Player of The Week is more than enough for me to pick the visiting Packers this week.
Don’t look for any pity on the part of Green Bay this week. The only thing more certain than a 6-2 record after Sunday is Rob Ryan breaking a headset.
Packers cruise into their bye week …
Packers 31 Saints 20
Coalter Hansen
Coalter Hansen: The white hot Packers will have their hands full when they travel to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to take on the Saints.
Aaron Rodgers has been on fire as of late and the offense seems to be clicking on all cylinders. Rodgers should be able to do what he wants against this Saints’ secondary.
On the other side of the ball the Saints have Drew Brees. Even though he’s been a little hit and miss, he’s one of the few elite QB’s in the league. For whatever reason, Dom Capers seems to panic when he faces top-tier QB’s.
This game should be a fun one if you like scoring as I think both teams will put points up in bunches.
In the end, the Packers eek one out.
Packers 30 Saints 28
Patrick Hughes
Patrick Hughes: For the Packers to be successful against the Saints, their defense, especially the run defense, needs to make the trip. Additionally, if the offense can get out to a lead – all the better.
The offensive line of the Saints is a liability. If the Packers can force New Orleans into throwing the ball the Packers NASCAR defense may just get revved up and run over Drew Brees.
My gut says Aaron Rodgers and company continues to dominate and the Packers defense inches closer to establishing legitimacy.
Packers 38 Saints 28
Kevin Gibson
Kevin Gibson: The New Orleans Saints have the second most prolific offense in the league right now in terms of total offense, and Drew Brees is the key reason for that.
Playing under the dome in New Orleans, the Green Bay Packers’ defense is staring down a substantial challenge.
Fortunately, the Pack’s up and down defense is still better than the Saints’, especially when you consider the black and gold’s porous secondary; New Orleans is No. 28 against the pass and 21st overall on defense.
Enter Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Even though the Green Bay defense coughs up an average of 21 points per game, it has been playing perhaps as well as it has all season.
I see a throwdown in the Big Easy.
Packers 34 Saints 28
Jerry Bulone
Jerry Bulone: The Saints’ offense is no longer the smooth running potent offense it once as. Who Dat has often been replaced by where’s Dat?
The reasons are pretty simple. First, the Saints lost Darren Sproles, a key to that offense, and they lost the receiver depth. Finally, Jimmy Graham has been hurt, and Marques Colston is on pace to catch just over 50 balls.
As a result Drew Brees is ranked 17th in passer rating with 11 touchdowns against 7 interceptions.
The Saints defense has been even more disappointing. Coming into this season with high priced free agent additions they looked to improve on their fourth overall ranking. They are worse than Green Bay against the pass and not much better against the run.
Long story short, if there was ever a time to beat New Orleans at home – this is it.
To me it is going to come down to the health of Jimmy Graham. If he plays like he has the last two weeks, it’s going to be real tough for N.O. They will have to outgun a red hot Aaron Rodgers with names like Ingram, Stills, and Cooks. While they may be up and coming, they are not stars yet, not by a longshot.
Lucky for the Saints offense they get a Capers-led D, so they will move the ball, and score with relative ease, and may even at times look like the Saints of old.
But in the end, Rodgers is just too hot right now. I think the Packers take care of the Saints in a close one.
Take the over in this one!
Packers 34 Saints 31
David Burdette
David Burdette: Oh when the Packers, come marching …
Oops, wrong team.
The red hot Packers go to New Orleans to face a stagnant Saints team that needs to right the ship. The Saints problems so far has been a horrid defense and a surprising lack of efficiency by Drew Brees, who has thrown over half the interceptions he did last year to less than a fourth of the touchdowns.
Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, is looking like an MVP with 18 TDs to only 1 interception.The Packers defense will bend this week, but will it break?
Brees and the Saints get a break playing at home, but is it really a break? Rodgers is great at home and in the elements, but he shines in dome settings which spells really bad things for a Saints team that can’t seem to catch a break.
Packers 38 Saints 27
Kevin Dickens
Kevin Dickens: The Saints are 18-0 under Sean Peyton since 2011 at home. The feat of beating them and moving to 6-2 is quite a Herculean task.
But with Aaron Rodgers quietly playing MVP-type football with 18 TDs and 1 INT on the season it might not be such a stretch for the Packers to win this game.
Aaron’s track record in dome environments could get this high octane offense into a fast gear.
The defense is lurking for interceptions. Drew Brees has already thrown 7 INTs on the year. With Jimmy Graham still not back to 100 percent health the Packers could challenge Drew Brees and live to win the fight.
A group of playmakers in the secondary with 10 INTS on the year and a defense geared to pass rush could spoil a party in the Big Easy.
This win properly Aaron Rodgers squarely into the MVP conversation.
Go Pack Go!
Packers 48 Saints 27
Kenn Korb
Kenn Korb: This matchup pits two teams that are on completely different ends of the spectrum so far this season.
Green Bay has recovered from a slow start to win its last four games and reach 5-2 behind an offense that’s playing strong and a defense that has been stepping up considerably lately.
New Orleans, meanwhile, is struggling everywhere, with a defense that has been leaky and an offense that can’t quite find a full stride. Despite their struggles, they still are right in the hunt for their division title at 2-4.
The one place the Saints have won this year is at home, though it hasn’t been a particularly impressive showing either time.
Still, it hasn’t been easy to beat them in their building, so it cannot be taken for granted. Brees and his offense should be able to step up and make plays through the air, with Mark Ingram probably being better prepared to make an impact in his second week back from a broken hand.
The area I don’t expect to step up is their defense.
All they have done this season is let anyone and everyone pierce it like a knife through butter, and against Aaron Rodgers that shouldn’t change.
He’s been on fire, putting up TDs at a rapid rate without turning it over or forcing the issue, and remains the best in the game with his ability to extend plays and make throws nobody else would consider.
Add in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb playing as good as they have been and a running game that should step up again here, and the Saints won’t be able to keep up.
Green Bay 41 New Orleans 27
Dan Verduin: This matchup features two teams with offensive similarities, but very different defenses.
Rodgers has a history of great performances in domed stadiums, and this shouldn’t be any different, while Drew Brees will be in a very hospitable home environment.
The Saints’ wide receivers have not looked like the receivers of old, and that bodes well for the Packers sixth-ranked pass defense. I expect the Packers receivers to shine in the dome, and against a weak secondary.
The difference in this matchup is the play of the defenses where each has a glaring weakness. For the Packers, the weakness is their run defense (ranked 31st) which is going against the Saints’ 13th-ranked rush offense. For the Saints, their weakness is in their secondary, of which Rodgers can easily exploit.
In all, I expect a shootout between two of the elite quarterbacks in the league going against each other’s relatively porous defenses, and I expect the domed environment to be a non-factor.
Packers 42 Saints 34
Ray Rivard
Ray Rivard: I expect Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees to come out flinging the ball around the yard in this Sunday Night Football showdown in The Big Easy.
However, with the white-hot Rodgers leading a high-powered offense, the Packers should get the upper hand early and hopefully force Brees into a couple of second half mistakes that will turn into Packers points.
I also expect the Packers to try to get Eddie Lacy and James Starks into the mix to run the clock and keep Brees and the New Orleans offense on the sidelines.
While it will be close in the first half, expect the Packers to pull away in the second half of this high-scoring affair.
With help from the defense and special team, I think the Packers might have the opportunity to score in the 40s tonight.
Packers ride into the bye with a convincing win.
Packers 45 Saints 27