The Green Bay Packers (1-1) and New Orleans Saints (2-0) will face off Sunday at Lambeau Field in a Week 3 battle within the NFC. The home opener for the Packers features a visit from the unbeaten Saints, who won games against the Titans and Panthers over the first two weeks.
Can the Packers bounce back from last week’s meltdown in Atlanta and get to 2-1 with a home win, or will the Saints be flying back to New Orleans with a 3-0 record?
Buy Packers TicketsHere’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 3 showdown against the Saints will go down:
Zach Kruse (1-1): Packers 20, Saints 18
The Saints are going to challenge the Packers in big ways. This is a (currently) unbeaten team with a veteran quarterback, weapons at wide receiver and an experienced, well-coached and playmaking defense. The guess here is nothing about Sunday will be easy. But I like the Packers at home for a few reasons. For starters, the Saints are playing the second of back-to-back road games and lost a day of prep/recovery due to playing on Monday night. Second, the Packers defensive front could really give the Saints problems in the passing game, and I don’t see a run game capable of really threatening Green Bay’s biggest weakness. In an ugly contest, the Packers escape with a win in Jordan Love’s first home start.
Brandon Carwile (1-1): Packers 20, Saints 17
This should be a matchup between two undefeated teams, but Green Bay let Atlanta run away with last week’s game. That shouldn’t be the case on Sunday, as New Orleans will be without running backs Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. The Saints still have a Swiss Army knife in Taysom Hill and a talented receiving corps, but the Packers’ defense should be ready for the challenge. The pass rush will be primed and ready to go against Derek Carr, who has already been sacked eight times this year. Carr will connect on a deep ball or two, but he will have at least one turnover, either a fumble or interception. Offensively, Green Bay may have wide receiver Christian Watson for the first time this season, which will inject some life into the passing game. Aaron Jones might also be back after sitting out a week. Regardless of injuries, the Packers aren’t losing the home opener of the Jordan Love era.
Paul Bretl (1-1); Packers 17, Saints 13
I think this could turn into a bit of an ugly contest and a low scoring affair. This is going to be a really tough test for a young Packers offense, going up an aggressive and physical Saints defense that has been dominant through two games. On the flip side, I think the Packers defensive front will have the opportunity to wreak some havoc against a Saints offensive line that has really struggled in pass protection. This is also a New Orleans run game that is averaging only 3.4 yards per carry this season. Whoever wins the line of scrimmage will win this game and even with some injuries to the Packers offensive line, I think they are better equipped to do so, allowing Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love to put up just enough points to escape with the win.
Brennen Rupp (1-1): Packers 16, Saints 13
Jordan Love and his crew of young pass catchers will face a difficult test on Sunday against a stingy Saints defense. That test will get even more challenging if David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones and Christian Watson are all inactive. If those three are active, I think the Packers could end up winning by 10. Defensively, look for Jaire Alexander to rebound after a rough week. If he’s able to lock up Chris Olave, Green Bay’s pass rush will make life very difficult for Derek Carr. Green Bay takes the home opener to improve to 2-1 overall.
Season prediction records
| Writer | Record | Prediction | Score |
| Zach Kruse | 1-1 | Win | 20-18 |
| Brandon Carwile | 1-1 | Win | 20-17 |
| Paul Bretl | 1-1 | Win | 17-13 |
| Brennen Rupp | 1-1 | Win | 16-13 |
