The New Orleans Saints will continue their two-game road trip as they head up north to face off against the Green Bay Packers. The Saints are hoping to continue their winning ways heading up to Lambeau Field against a Packers team that is 1-1 on the season. New Orleans is on a short week after taking down the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night and can move to 3-0 with a win over the NFC North foe. The Packers will be the first of four NFC North opponents the Saints will face this season.
New Orleans Offense Hoping for Fast Start Against Packers
Saints WR Michael Thomas (13) – Jacob Kupferman/AP Photo
The Saints are off to a 2-0 start to the season, with wins over the Tennessee Titans in week one and the Carolina Panthers in week two. A team wouldn’t complain about being 2-0, but this offense is looking to start the game fast against the Packers in week three. New Orleans’ offense continued to struggle, especially in the first half against the Panthers defense.
The Saints would only find the endzone twice throughout the game, and both were at the hands of running back Tony Jones Jr. The running back room took a hit as Jamaal Williams was ruled out with a hamstring injury, and he is expected to miss some time moving forward. That leaves Jones Jr. as the featured back, with rookie running back Kendre Miller as the other viable option. Miller is yet to see action in the regular season for the Saints as he has also been dealing with an injury to start the season.
At a time when the Saints could desperately use Alvin Kamara, they will have to find other alternatives to be able to establish an effective running game against the Packers. Even with the running back injuries, you are starting to see Michael Thomas get back to his normal self.
Along with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, there are weapons that quarterback Derek Carr can use to be able to get off to that fast start they are hoping for against Green Bay. On the defensive side of the ball, New Orleans will be without safety Marcus Maye, as he is serving a three-game suspension.
Know Your Foe: Packers
Packers QB Jordan Love (10) – Bryan Anderson/AP Photo
The Packers are 1-1 to start the season, and all of the talk in the offseason was how this team was going to fair without Aaron Rodgers being their signal caller. Quarterback Jordan Love has stepped right into that role and he has shown what he is capable of doing in this offense. Through the first two games of the season, Love has 396 passing yards and six touchdowns.
Green Bay was able to dismantle the Chicago Bears in week one, 38-20, on the road. In their other road test on the season, the Packers fell to the Atlanta Falcons, 25-24. The Packers will return to Lambeau Field for the first time during the regular season, and they are looking to bounce back against the Saints.
The Packers offensive line has been their strength through the first two weeks of the season. The Packers rank 13th in the NFL in pass protection. It is still within question whether or not running back Aaron Jones will be available for the contest against the Saints on Sunday, as he has been battling with a hamstring injury. If Jones is unable to go, then AJ Dillon would get the call to be the lead back.
Another notable injury to watch for the Packers is wide receiver Christian Watson. Watson had to sit against the Falcons, leaving the wide receiver core to Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed leading the way.
On the defensive side for the Packers, the key for them will be to limit the big plays that this Saints offense can create.
Prediction: Packers 20, Saints 17
