Green Bay Packers 2021 opponent preview: New Orleans Saints
The countdown to the 2021 regular season is underway. We know the Green Bay Packers‘ schedule and, mostly, which players will be on the team. Unfortunately, we don’t yet know whether that includes Aaron Rodgers.
Green Bay kicks things off on the road against the New Orleans Saints, winners of the NFC South four years running.
The Saints, do however, begin life without future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Drew Brees. They’ll look to begin a new era after Brees with a victory over the NFC runners-up.
Last season
It was an impressive season for Sean Payton’s team. They cruised to another NFC South title with a 12-4 record, falling just short of the top seed and a first-round bye. A loss to the Packers early on proved to be crucial.
Their season came to an end at the hands of the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were soon crowned Super Bowl champions. That came after defeating the Buccaneers twice in the regular season, including an emphatic 38-3 win on the road. In the end, they lost the one that mattered.
When is the game?
The Packers met the Saints early last season and the same is true again in 2021. This game will be played in Week 1, kicking off at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 12. A great way to begin the new season.
Offseason additions/departures
The Saints watched a number of key players depart this offseason, most notably 13-time Pro Bowler Drew Brees, who announced his retirement in March.
Along with Brees, the Saints have also lost Kwon Alexander, Jared Cook, Emmanuel Sanders, and Janoris Jenkins.
New Orleans focused on defense early in the draft, selecting defensive end Payton Turner, linebacker Pete Werner, and cornerback Paulson Adebo in the opening three rounds. They also possibly found their quarterback of the future by drafting Ian Book in the fourth round.
Last meeting with Packers
September 28, 2020: Packers won 37-30 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Player to watch
Jameis Winston: Winston could be the starter for the Saints with Brees gone. He only played in four games last year. His last season as a starter was with the Buccaneers in 2019 when he threw for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns, but 30 interceptions.
After a year of sitting behind Brees, how much has the former first-overall pick improved? And can he lead the Saints to another division title?
Assuming he starts, Winston is the player to watch when the Packers visit the Superdome in the season opener.