Packers vs. Saints: Experts from around the internet predict

Packers fans will watch their Aaron-Rodgers-less team play at home against the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees Sunday. Without Rodgers, experts from around the internet make their predictions.

Packers momentum, if there was such a thing, came to an abrupt halt last week when Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr hit Aaron Rodgers, forcing him into the ground, and breaking his right collarbone.

Many have tagged that moment in time as the end of the Green Bay Packers’ season.

Not so fast … there’s still 10 games to play, and the Packers don’t plan to forfeit any of them.

That said, we enter the Brett Hundley era.

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Aaron Rodgers has a chance of coming back yet this season, but for now it’s Hundley’s team to win and lose with.

Last week, coming in for Rodgers, Hundley was hot and cold, but it was the mostly cold that reigned in his three-plus quarters of play.

This is a new week and Hundley will have a full week of practice behind him and hope is renewed for the Packers faithful.

How long that lasts remains to be seen.

The New Orleans Saints will have something to say about that.

With only a few hours before game time, we take our weekly spin around the internet to see what the experts are saying about today’s game.

Let’s start with the hometown guys over at the Green Bay Press Gazette …

Predictions from the experts

From the Green Bay Press Gazette …

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From the Times-Picayune in New Orleans

"Jeff Duncan, Columnist: The betting line swung more than 10 points after Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone injury. The Saints have yet to play a close game, with all of their games being decided by double digits. They are overdue for a nail-biter and something tells me the Packers are going to be extra-motivated for this one after losing Rodgers and sole possession of their NFC North lead last week."

"Packers 26 Saints 24 Larry Holder, Saints columnist: This game flipped on its axis once Aaron Rodgers busted his right collarbone. There’s no way I would have picked the Saints to win Sunday if Rodgers was lining up under center. Still, the Saints won’t have an easy time in Green Bay. New Orleans won’t sleep on Brett Hundley, though, and the defense should create a couple of takeaways to set the Saints offense up for success.Saints 27 Packers 24 Herbie Teope, Saints writer: The Saints are on a roll and it continues Sunday against a Packers team without two-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers are turning to Brett Hundley, who threw three interceptions and was sacked four times last week in relief of Rodgers, who suffered a broken collarbone against the Minnesota Vikings. And now Hundley faces a surging Saints defense, which has accounted for 13 sacks, seven interceptions and three defensive touchdowns in the last three games. Look for the Saints to extend the winning streak to four games.Saints 28  Packers 17 Josh Katzenstein, Saints writer: The Saints are hot, and Aaron Rodgers is out for the Packers. It seems like an easy enough game, but the Saints can’t fall for the trap. Rodgers’ backup Brett Hundley has so little regular-season experience it’s tough to project what he’ll be do. In the end, I think the Saints force Hundley to make some mistakes.Saints 27 Packers 22 Amos Morale III, Sports writer: The Saints are playing with so much confidence at the moment and the Packers are decimated by injury. Hundley may play well but there is just no way Green Bay can make up for not having, arguably, the best player in the NFL on the field."

"Saints 30 Packers 17"

From Packerswire.USAtoday.com

"A week of preparation as the starter and three years of experience in the Packers offense should give Brett Hundley a good chance to play well in his first career NFL start. But will he play well enough to overcome all the chaos around him? The Packers are hurting along the offensive line and in the secondary (and, well, everywhere else). The effect of the injuries could make life increasingly difficult for Hundley, both in terms of operating the offense on a snap-to-snap basis and on the scoreboard while playing catch-up against a veteran quarterback who has torched the Packers in the past. Hundley plays well, but the Packers fall."

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From Cheeseheadtv.com

"Andy3-3N.O. Saints38-24I think Brett Hundley and Green Bay will show up just fine on offense, but Dom Capers has a bad history against upper echelon quarterbacks. I don’t see that changing Sunday. Brees and Michael Thomas should have big days.Chris P4-2N.O. Saints30-21Hundley will be better this week, he might even give fans a glimmer of hope, but the Packers still lose. The team is too banged up and Drew Brees is too hot right now.Chris W4-2Green Bay Packers24-23This game is going to come down to whether the Packers’ defense can keep New Orleans out of the end zone enough times to win. If they can bow their necks and force field goal attempts rather than allow touchdowns, they’ll keep things within reach for Brett Hundley and the offense. Call me crazy, but I think they can do it.Cory4-2N.O. Saints27-23The unknown makes this prediction very difficult. Drew Brees will filet a defense that has been vulnerable. Brett Hundley will play well, but will not match Brees — even though Kevin King and Davon House are back from injury.David4-2N.O. Saints38-27Much of the attention toward Sunday’s game against the Saints has focused on Brett Hundley in relief of injured Aaron Rodgers, but Dom Capers and the Green Bay defense holds the key. The Packers’ banged up secondary will have its hands full and that’s to say nothing of the Saints’ balanced rushing attack. With too many Green Bay wounded and too many New Orleans weapons, Sunday’s contest will be one where even an effective Hundley will have a hard time keeping up.Elisha4-2N.O. Saints38-24I am less worried about Hundley and the offense than I am about the defense. I don’t think Capers’ crew will be able to consistently slow down Drew Brees and the high-powered New Orleans offense.Jason5-1N.O. Saints27-17The Packers have to show up on both sides of the ball and I’m not overly confident that both will. I need to see Brett Hundley run the offense and score points and the defense play like they won’t.  Too much Brees is just, too muchJersey Al5-1Green Bay Packers24-20I was all about Drew Brees being too much for the banged up Packers secondary until I looked closer at their win over the Lions. Three touchdowns were defensive touchdowns and Brees “only” had 2 TD passes and 186 yds passing. The running game (237 yds between Ingram and Kamarra drove the offense. With run defense a strength, this Packers team has a chance. I’m taking a flyer on the entire team rallying together to show the world they are not just Aaron Rodgers, they are the Green Bay Packers.Michelle4-2N.O. Saints31-20The Saints aren’t as good a team as their 52 points against the Lions might indicate, and if the Packers can prevent a single giveaway, there’s a chance they could win this game. But it’s more likely that, even if the offense looks improved under a game plan designed for Brett Hundley, the Packers defense fails to contain the Saints offense.Ross5-1N.O. Saints28-17I won’t predict the Packers beating a competent team without Rodgers until I see it happen.  Brees is too much for Capers.Zach4-2Green Bay Packers28-27"

"I’ve talked myself into an unhealthy amount of confidence in Brett Hundley this last week — not so much the wounded team around him. I think they’ll surprise a lot of people considering they’re in much better of a situation than they were four years ago. Drew Brees will be a tough one to match offensively."

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UPI.com

"Dennis Rudner: Is there a tougher place than Lambeau for a road team to pick up a win? The Saints can buck that trend if the defense keeps the heat on Aaron Rodgers’ replacement, Brett Hundley.Saints 31 Packers17"

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Athlon Sports & Life

"John La Fleur, a contributor to AthlonSports.com: Prior to Aaron Rodgers’ injury, this game looked like a formidable hurdle for the Saints. Now, it appears much more manageable for the steadily improving Black and Gold defense, although they do face a dilemma. Should they continue to ramp up their pressure on this inexperienced quarterback as they have done in their three victories? Should they key on stopping Green Bay’s running game to force Brett Hundley into long conversion attempts on third and fourth downs?The Packers absolutely could benefit from a week without a game. They need to integrate Hundley further into their starting offensive unit. Unfortunately for them, their bye will not come until after this contest versus the Saints. Their underperforming running game does not appear to be able to step up and take pressure off Hundley.Saints 30, Packers 20"