THE SAINTS WILL WIN IF...
Quarterback Drew Brees plays both aggressively and cautious and the same time. Impossible? Not so much. When Brees has time in the pocket, he can beat just about any defense. He'll do the same if the Saints' front five holds up. But at the same time, the Packers propensity for intercepting passes combined with the high-flying passing attack could be a recipe for trouble if Brees isn't careful.
Reggie Bush can make his return 100 percent healthy and involved in the running, passing and special teams units. Bush has missed the last four games as he recovers from a torn medial meniscus in his knee. The Saints have missed Bush as well as far as having some diversity on offense and a true weapon returning punts. Bush said not to tell anyone from Green Bay that he'll be fielding punts, but he anticipates doing so.
Defensive ends Will Smith, Bobby McCray and Jeff Charleston can apply the same type of pressure on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers as they did on the Chiefs' Tyler Thigpen. It was the first sign of pass-rushing life from the Saints since Week 6 as Smith, McCray and Charleston combined for four sacks. Rodgers tends to hold onto the ball longer than most passers so the Saints should have some chances.
Courtney Roby continues to display the juice Saints coach Sean Payton keeps seeing from him in the kick-return game. Roby has already brought some pep into the special teams as he's averaging more than 28 yards per kick return and has broke off returns for more than 40 yards in each of the last two games. Anything to help improve field position for this prolific offense is a plus.
They produce more than one turnover at the end of the game like they did in Kansas City. Sure the team's turnover ratio is poor because the offense has given the ball away more often then they'd fancy. But when the defense rarely if ever creates takeaways, it's no wonder the Saints have given up 29 or more points in every loss this season.
THE PACKERS WILL WIN IF...
Wide receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver take advantage of a beat-up Saints secondary. Cornerback Randall Gay will likely spy Jennings like he did last week against the Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe. The problem is Jason David and Usama Young will be on the opposite end of the field. Young surrendered two touchdowns when covering Bowe last week and Rodgers will surely pick on David and Young.
The Green Bay secondary forces the issue like it has done plenty of times already this season. Cornerback Charles Woodson and Co., have been one of the most dangerous units to throw the football against in 2008 as the Packers have intercepted opposing quarterbacks 16 times through only 10 games. The Packers recognize they'll have a ton of chances the way Brees and the Saints use the passing game.
Defensive end Aaron Kampman can beat Saints left tackle around the edge and becomes a frequent visitor for Brees in the pocket. The 6-foot-4, 268-pound defender has tallied 7? sacks this season to lead the Packers. If he can use his speed to beat Brown, Kampman can fluster Brees and force him into some possible bad decisions allowing the dangerous secondary to jump some pass routes.
Ryan Grant continues to boost the Packers running game. The 2007 surprise struggled after receiving a new contract in the offseason. Lately, though, Grant has displayed he's a legitimate tailback and will force the Saints to game plan for the run along with the pass. For the season, Grant has rushed for 770 yards and three scores and is coming off a 145-yard rushing output against Chicago last week.
Linebacker A.J. Hawk can slow down an eager Bush. The Saints easily could have drafted Hawk in 2006 had Bush not fallen into their lap at the No. 2 pick. Hawk ranks third on the Packers with 67 total tackles and will likely key in on the Saints' No. 25 as Bush should return to the lineup for the first time in a month.
Quarterback Drew Brees plays both aggressively and cautious and the same time. Impossible? Not so much. When Brees has time in the pocket, he can beat just about any defense. He'll do the same if the Saints' front five holds up. But at the same time, the Packers propensity for intercepting passes combined with the high-flying passing attack could be a recipe for trouble if Brees isn't careful.
Reggie Bush can make his return 100 percent healthy and involved in the running, passing and special teams units. Bush has missed the last four games as he recovers from a torn medial meniscus in his knee. The Saints have missed Bush as well as far as having some diversity on offense and a true weapon returning punts. Bush said not to tell anyone from Green Bay that he'll be fielding punts, but he anticipates doing so.
Defensive ends Will Smith, Bobby McCray and Jeff Charleston can apply the same type of pressure on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers as they did on the Chiefs' Tyler Thigpen. It was the first sign of pass-rushing life from the Saints since Week 6 as Smith, McCray and Charleston combined for four sacks. Rodgers tends to hold onto the ball longer than most passers so the Saints should have some chances.
Courtney Roby continues to display the juice Saints coach Sean Payton keeps seeing from him in the kick-return game. Roby has already brought some pep into the special teams as he's averaging more than 28 yards per kick return and has broke off returns for more than 40 yards in each of the last two games. Anything to help improve field position for this prolific offense is a plus.
They produce more than one turnover at the end of the game like they did in Kansas City. Sure the team's turnover ratio is poor because the offense has given the ball away more often then they'd fancy. But when the defense rarely if ever creates takeaways, it's no wonder the Saints have given up 29 or more points in every loss this season.
THE PACKERS WILL WIN IF...
Wide receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver take advantage of a beat-up Saints secondary. Cornerback Randall Gay will likely spy Jennings like he did last week against the Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe. The problem is Jason David and Usama Young will be on the opposite end of the field. Young surrendered two touchdowns when covering Bowe last week and Rodgers will surely pick on David and Young.
The Green Bay secondary forces the issue like it has done plenty of times already this season. Cornerback Charles Woodson and Co., have been one of the most dangerous units to throw the football against in 2008 as the Packers have intercepted opposing quarterbacks 16 times through only 10 games. The Packers recognize they'll have a ton of chances the way Brees and the Saints use the passing game.
Defensive end Aaron Kampman can beat Saints left tackle around the edge and becomes a frequent visitor for Brees in the pocket. The 6-foot-4, 268-pound defender has tallied 7? sacks this season to lead the Packers. If he can use his speed to beat Brown, Kampman can fluster Brees and force him into some possible bad decisions allowing the dangerous secondary to jump some pass routes.
Ryan Grant continues to boost the Packers running game. The 2007 surprise struggled after receiving a new contract in the offseason. Lately, though, Grant has displayed he's a legitimate tailback and will force the Saints to game plan for the run along with the pass. For the season, Grant has rushed for 770 yards and three scores and is coming off a 145-yard rushing output against Chicago last week.
Linebacker A.J. Hawk can slow down an eager Bush. The Saints easily could have drafted Hawk in 2006 had Bush not fallen into their lap at the No. 2 pick. Hawk ranks third on the Packers with 67 total tackles and will likely key in on the Saints' No. 25 as Bush should return to the lineup for the first time in a month.
