Saints at Packers -- Week 4
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis. (grass, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
Spread: Packers by 7.5
Forecast: Sunny, mid-60s
Records: Packers (Overall: 1-2, NFC North: 0-1); Saints (Overall: 0-3, NFC South: 0-1)
Past results: For the second year in a row, the Packers and Saints meet at Lambeau Field in the first month of the season.
Recent meetings: Sept. 8, 2011: Packers 42, Saints 34; Nov. 24, 2008: Saints 51, Packers 29. Series record: The Packers lead 15-7, including 9-2 vs. New Orleans at home.
What matters: Washing the sour taste from their mouths after the travesty on Monday night at Seattle, when the replacement refs made the wrong call on the game’s final play and cost the Packers the win. All week, Green Bay players and coaches stressed the need to move on and look forward to Sunday’s game against New Orleans. Although they were robbed last week, the Packers’ stumbling offense, which ranks 26th in points per game, needs to prove it bears some resemblance to last season’s record-setting unit, which led the league in scoring (35.0 average). Against the Saints’ last-ranked defense, the Packers have the opportunity to make a statement.
Who matters: With the regular officials back, there shouldn’t be many major issues and hopefully nothing game-altering. Who matters on Sunday are the Packers’ offensive linemen, who allowed eight sacks last week against the Seahawks. All eight came in a putrid first half when the Packers were shut out and the offense was unable to get into any kind of rhythm. RT Bryan Bulaga and LG T.J. Lang were particularly outspoken about their performance, saying it was “embarrassing” and “bad football.” For QB Aaron Rodgers and his weapons to be dangerous, the protection has to be better.
Key matchups: Packers offensive line vs. Saints run defense. The Packers found out last week how important the run game is to offensive balance and success. In the first half, they hardly ran the ball at all and were held scoreless. In the second half, they established the ground game and finally got the offense going. The Saints have the league’s worst rush defense. Packers coaches seem to be ready to commit to the run.
Injuries of note: WR Greg Jennings (groin) has been limited in practice for the second straight week, but he’s listed as probable for the game against New Orleans. CB Davon House, who’s been hampered by a shoulder injury since the preseason, was limited all week and is questionable. The guess here is that he won’t play, especially given the depth at corner. Rookie Sean Richardson, the third-string safety, still hasn’t practiced because of a nagging hamstring injury and is listed as out.
Inside stuff: Most of it didn’t show up in the box score, but the Packers' rookies made a big impact last week and have settled into significant roles on defense. OLB Nick Perry had a sack, CB Casey Hayward was excellent in coverage, making an outstanding pass breakup on third down. S Jerron McMillian was also superb defending the pass, with a diving, third-down pass defense of his own and a head-turning interception that was nullified by a defensive penalty. The rookies' contributions are pivotal to the defense remaining as good as it has been, especially against a potent offense like the Saints.
Connections: Packers coach Mike McCarthy was the Saints offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2004. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers (1986-1991), offensive coordinator Tom Clements (1997-1999), quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo (2004) and assistant head coach/linebackers Winston Moss (2000-2005) were also members of the Saints coaching staff.
Stat you should know: 2 and 15. As in, Benson’s carries in the first half and second half, respectively, against the Seahawks. In the first half, the Packers called 27 pass plays and three run plays. The result was eight sacks, punts on all five drives and no points. In the second half, they come out pounding the ball on the ground and scored on their first three possessions. Night and day. Benson gets better as the game goes on, and staying faithful to the run will be vital against the Saints’ shoddy run defense.
Bulletin board quote: "You could sit here and say you wish it happened a couple weeks back. But everybody here understands that before we worry about the officiating of the game or what else is going on, we have to make sure that we take care of our own business. That's been our main focus this week. We have to understand that on offense, we have to execute better to win some games and not let those tight games come down to a bad call or something like that. That's been our focus this week." -- Lang on the return of the regular officials being secondary to the Packers' offense playing better.
Looking ahead: After this third home game in the first month, the Packers go on the road for their next three. Green Bay is at Indianapolis next week to take on QB Andrew Luck and the Colts. Then they travel to Houston to battle the Texans. And then they go to Jacksonville to take on the young Jaguars.
Prediction: Packers 27, Saints 20
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter: @CBSPackers and @jimmycarlton88.
