Green Bay Packers: 3 X-Factors Against New Orleans
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers have a difficult matchup with New Orleans this week, but these three X-Factors can play big roles in helping them win the game.
The Green Bay Packers have cruised to fairly easy wins during the first two weeks of the season, scoring over 40 points in each game and totaling over 1,000 yards of offense. While the defense has taken their lumps, as they did much of last season, they’ve come up with the big stop or turnover when needed.
This week, however, will be the Packers’ first true test as they head to New Orleans for a primetime matchup with the Saints. Originally, the Saints were going to have fans in attendance but have since reduced that number to just friends and family members of the players. This will undoubtedly benefit Green Bay as a typical New Orleans crowd creates one of the more difficult road environments in the NFL.
On the field, both teams will be without their star receivers, and it looks like the Packers could be without Kenny Clark once again. Drew Brees will be looking to bounce back, and we can expect to see plenty of Alvin Kamara on Sunday Night. On offense, the Packers will have to contend with an experienced Saints’ secondary, something they haven’t gone up against yet, as well as a pass-rush, led by Cam Jordan, that knows how to get after the quarterback.
As Aaron Rodgers said earlier this week, this game will be a great measuring stick for the Packers as this game will be far from an easy win. And if Green Bay is going to go into New Orleans and pull off the upset, we know players like Rodgers, Aaron Jones, and Za’Darius Smith all have to step up, but these three X-Factors will play big roles in determining the outcome as well.