Predictions: Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints

Shawn (5-2) — Whether I’m picking games or playing fantasy football, it always seems like my record imitates the Green Bay Packers’ record. Let’s hope that continues because I’m picking the Packers.

Drew Brees has had some big games against the Packers, especially in New Orleans and because of that and his no-surprise sizable yardage total this season, many are picking this game to be a shootout.

Perhaps.

Maybe Jimmy Graham will be fully recovered or at least recovered enough to have a big game against the soft-spot of the Packers defense. That would be quite a rebound considering Graham played limited snaps and didn’t have a single catch last week against the Lions. Maybe the young Saints’ receiving corps will have a coming out party at home. Or maybe the Saints will successfully pound the Packers with whoever they have running the ball this week and take the pressure off their passing game. Maybe.

In the past, when these two teams have faced off, Drew Brees has rarely been pressured. Usually, the offensive line is a Saints’ strength, especially the guard position. And in the past, the Saints had enough receiving weapons to give the Packers fits. I have my doubts that either of those conditions exist for the Saints any longer.

The Saints’ offensive line and receiving corps are not what they used to be. There are good reasons why the Saints are 2-4 and Drew Brees only has 11 TDs versus 7 INTs so far this season.

And though I may come to regret these words, I have to admit that when I see the Packers’ pass defense, pass rush and secondary, put up against the Saints’ passing offense, I like the Packers a lot. I feel pretty much the same about the Saints as I do most Packers’ opponents: they need to run the football or they will NOT have a large amount of success against this defense. Run the football and other things can open up. Fail to run the football and expect an ass-whooping.

Unlike his predecessor, Aaron Rodgers has never had any issue with playing in a dome. In fact, he typically shines indoors and he is on quite the tear right now. The Saints are not gifted with a great pass rush and therefore will rely on blitzes to get pressure on Rodgers. The Saints’ blitz package is probably the key to this game. The Saints’ secondary wasn’t playing that well even before injuries knocked out a couple starters, including big free agent pick-up Jairus Byrd. If the Saints can’t get to Rodgers, their chances of stopping the Packers’ passing game are remote.

With the bye following this game, will the Packers already be looking forward to it? Will their bags already be packed? That is a wild card, but typically Mike McCarthy’s teams play well both going into and coming out of the bye week.

The Packers don’t HAVE to be 6-2 going into their bye, but they SHOULD win this game.

Packers 38, Saints 20

Andrew (6-1) — First of all, I want to go on the record that I’m a little sick of hearing about the New Orleans Saints. I’m tired of hearing about their home winning streak under Sean Payton. You know, the streak that skips a year in time because of Payton’s suspension for something he supposedly might have done regarding ‘Bountygate.’ Who gives a shit anyway? So what that under Payton this team has won 19 straight and have been 18-0-1 versus the spread in that time?

Damn… when you say it out loud, it is a little intimidating. But to this particular stat I will yield to Steve Buscemi who while playing Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs summarized his thoughts on automatically tipping waitresses by succinctly stating, “Fuck all that.”

Yes. Fuck. All. That. The Saints are favored in this game? Gimme a fucking break. New Orleans opened as one point favorites and have ballooned to two and in some places even 2.5? Fuck all of that even further.  Jump on the Packers with both feet. The Saints are living on past reputation.

And Drew Brees this and Drew Brees that. You know what? Fuck Drew Brees. Yeah, I said it. Dude makes 30 million a year, owns a handful of Jimmy John’s restaurants, orders his food to go and then doesn’t even tip his own employees. Brees and Mr. Pink should get together and go bowling so they can bitch at each other for 30 minutes about who owes the extra penny on their $14.85 tab, even though they both agreed to stiff the waitress. Makes me sick. When you’re a public figure and make a crap load of money, you have an obligation to be a good, if not extremely good, tipper.

Not to mention the dude is a chucker. I predict Brees throws at least two interceptions and if that prediction is accurate I think the Packers are going to rip this team apart. This game is not about what the Saints can do on their best night at home. This game is about what the Packers are capable of doing which is laying the wood to this Saints team that for some reason is still garnering a lot of respect and adoration in this league.

If I’m the Packers and am two-point underdogs coming into this game, I’m getting ready to rip someone’s throat out and then show it to them.

“We are nobody’s underdog.”

You’re goddamn right.

The Packers will roll the last breath out of these pukes from the Big Easy. Say goodbye to your season Naw’lins.

Packers 41, Saints 19

Monty (4-3) — I was all set to pick the Saints in this game. I’m still not sold on the fact that the Packers are as good as their 5-2 record indicates. Before today, I wasn’t sold on the fact that the Saints are as bad as their 2-4 record indicates.

Two things changed my mind.

First, the money flowing toward New Orleans. The Saints opened as one-point favorites and if you know anything about how lines are set, that means they’re only favored because they’re playing at home. Then that line started to grow, which means more people are taking the Saints than the Packers.

And if you know anything about betting on football, then you know the majority usually does not rule. The majority are usually a bunch of fucking idiots. Go against the money in a game like this, you’ll probably win.

Second, I looked at the Saints’ roster. Who the hell are these the clowns?

Their top rusher is Khiry Robinson. Who the fuck is that? Doesn’t matter because he’s already been ruled out for Sunday.

Their leading receiver is tight end Jimmy Graham, which was predictable, but he’s questionable for the game. And as Shawn noted, he was a non-factor against Detroit last week. Even if he plays, I do not expect him to go off.

At receiver, the Saints still have Marques Colston, but their next two guys are Brandin Cooks and Kenny Stills. How much am I frightened of those two guys? Is it possible to be negatively frightened?

And here’s all you need to know about the Saints defense. They’re 28th in points allowed (27.5 per game) and against the pass (270.5 per game).

So, there are damn good reasons these guys are 2-4. They’re 2-4 because they’re a shitty team.

The Saints are still getting respect because of 1. past success, 2. Drew Brees, and 3. Sean Payton.

Well, I’ll tell ya what. You can jam past success straight up your ass, New Orleans. I’ll give you Drew Brees being pretty good, but he’s not going to win games by himself. And Sean Payton? I am totally fucking indifferent.

Is he a better coach than Buffon? Probably so. Hard to coach ’em up when your defense is that bad, your team is ravaged by injuries and Brees’ supporting cast wears red noses, floppy shoes and usually ride around on tricycles.

Unless they decide this is the week to shit the bed, the Packers will win this game simply because they’re the superior team.

Packers 32, Saints 23