1. The Z Stands Alone
I think in order for Z and Gary and Preston to have big games Pettine has to play more press man coverage. He can't allow for WR's to have quick hitting plays. Brees has always looked to get the ball out fast. Allowing WR's free releases will play into NO game.

2. Battle of the 2017 Backs
Kamara is a really good RB. He is a great pass catcher and should be our defenses focus on stopping. Hold him to 100 yards or less and I think we win.

3. No WR1, No Problem?
The problem with GB is they could be without 2 of their top offensive weapons. Adams and Deguara. Deguara only a rookie maybe our best overall TE. His versatility offers a lot of value to the offense.

4. Can the Packers Serve Up Three Straight Weeks of 40-Burgers?
Yes they can. Will they. We will have to see.

5. Red Zone Defense Critical
If we can hold the Saints to FG's that will greatly improve our chances. Brees doesn't have a downfield arm like he used to. Anything within 20 yards he is fine with. So shutting them down inside the 20 will be the key to this game.

6. Sustained Drives & 4th Down Success
Having that attitude of going for it on 4th down I believe creates a really good mindset for the team. The only 4th down that they didn't convert is the 4th and goal in which Adams drops the ball. Otherwise they'd be 3 for 3 on 4th downs. The biggest key to the success is Rodgers. He has been on fire these first 2 games.

Great pre-game article. The only thing to add is a score - Pack 37 Aints 30. GPG

Green Bay should will score a lot in this game, but their defense will make it close. I suspect Green Bay gets ahead and lets NO come back and make it close. Green Bay by 4 points.

If we rush for close to 200 it will be a win. I like badgers score.

I'd feel a whole lot better if Adams was playing for sure but we'll have to see. The Packers went 4-0 in the games Adams didn't play in last year and it was probably the best the offense looked last year. No Adams FORCES Rodgers to trust others. But I'll say this for Rodgers, he's going back to guys who have dropped passes this year which is something I like to see.

Rodgers knows the more he spreads the ball around the harder it is for defenses to key on any one player. No Adams and you best believe the Saints try to take Jones. Hopefully Ervin is has recovered from his concussion and will be able to play. I LOVE when that kid is involved. Perhaps a little more AJ Dillion this week when Williams, Jones, and Ervin are lined up all over the field. I'd love to see Dillion running the ball against some lighter fronts when the Packers spread out a defense. Dillion on a 190 pound CB?...PRICEESS!!

For me the issue of prime focus may not be sacks but coverage and setting the edge. The NO offense is based upon quick release and run after the catch. Stretch horizontally and attack the 10 to 15 yards behind.

That means pressure up the middle is critical because it’s more about disrupting timing and lanes than sacking and OLBs will need to be guarding the edges. A lot of stress on ILBs/Hybrids therefore.

Clark, if truly healthy will be a big factor. He would free the DEs to show if they can disrupt. Z or Gary are probably going to have to disrupt heavily too. P Smith will likely be in a coverage role mostly.

I hope Greene is fully fit and on his game. I see a lot of one ILB calls and Kamara is really not a guy you want any ILB covering: he is as much a receiver as a RB.

This game will test our most dubious areas thus far. Central D line ( albeit in a different way than Cook/Peterson) and short area D.

On offense, their best receiver may be a TE. Another factor we haven’t seen really (since the Lions failed to capitalize). Again, going to play to Greene ideally. May see a lot of safeties/hybrid snaps.

On our offense, if Adams is out or limited, this game is set up for Tonyan, particularly if Deguara doesn’t go. Their DBs are better than we have seen. Our TEs need to make use of the mismatches. Can they?

The Packers need to keep Brees and the NO offense off the field. If they win the TOP battle as they have during the first 2 games that will go a long way to securing a victory against the Saints. Get an early lead and keep the ball away from Brees as much as possible.

Defense needs to play aggressively at the LOS and not allow the Saints receivers an easy release at the snap. Brees will dink and dunk and throw to his backs all day. We need a good pass rush up the middle and we need to prevent YAC.

Even without Thomas the Saints have good speed on offense. If we can play ball control, chew up the clock and score points we’ll be OK. Once again the OL will be the key to this game and the key to keeping the Saints offense off the field. Go Pack Go!
Thanks, Since ‘61

I don't expect a lot of sacks even if our secondary covers well---Brees is known for his quick release so the game will mostly be decided by our suspect defense----again----it has been our achilles heal, almost every year from 2009

Defense: Don't get caught with your pants down on any gadget plays or decoy jobs from Taysom Hill; let's be smart and make sure the primary weapons are accounted for first.

Maggie, I wish you hadn't put the "no fumbles" item in your fun facts, now you may have jinxed Jamaal!

Double post.

The reason I like the Packers over the Saints is the lack of a running game in NO. Kamara is as much a WR as RB and the Packers have shown we can shut down the passing game. Packers have a better balanced offense and can run and pass equally effective with a surprisingly good OL in 2020. Father time has finally caught Drew Brees. While Rodgers is playing at an MVP level.

The Lions were a bigger test than fams give them credit for. They were up 14-3 and had they stuck with running up the middle and throwing to Hockenson they had a good chance at winning. They dominated TOP and kept Rodgers off the field. Fortunately they are the Lions so they completely went away from what was working and imploded. Saints are a quick strike offense which can work against them Sunday.