NFL Opening Night- What we Learned about the Packers and the Saints

Green Bay 42, New Orleans 34.

It was a game that had all the offense that you'd need and as irony would have it, a DEFENSIVE play at the very end of the game determined the outcome.  But after all, what did we really expect?  Green Bay, which in a lot of people's minds is the trendy pick to repeat as Super Bowl Champs and New Orleans, whom some would say is the best shot at knocking them off HAD to deliver, didn't they?  In a year when a lockout dominated the summer headlines, the NFL returned to glory with a game that -for once, matched the pregame hype. 

Aaron Rodgers was red-hot to start, throwing 3 TD's and 180 yards IN THE FIRST QUARTER, as the Pack raced to a 21-7 lead, but in the 2nd quarter, New Orleans showed up and finally began to show why some are picking the Saints to return to the big game in February.   Darren Sproles, whom many see as the match for the loss of Reggie Bush (NOT), brought a punt back 72 yards and the Saints -just like that, were within 4.  But before the half Green Bay assumed command again and they took an 11-point lead going into the break.

Here is where -during last season, the Saints would have had troubles.  No momentum on their side, they would have had double-digit deficits to deal with and Drew Brees throwing interceptions to get them back in the game.  But instead, their defense got it together, making Rodgers look almost average in the second half.   But here comes the back-breaker.  The kind of thing that can take the wind out of you, the kind of thing that -even at this early date, can give you momentum through the month of September.  A rookie -A ROOKIE, Randall Cobb (no relation to Tex, the boxer and wanna-be actor) took the kickoff after the Saints kicked a field-goal and ran it back 108 yards.

I'm confident, first of all, he's going to get his tail kicked in the first team meeting about the decision, but he made it count and it gave the Packers a lead that the Saints couldn't quite overcome ... or could they??

In my opinion, THEY COULD HAVE, had not Sean Payton gambled foolishly and went for it inside of the Green Bay 10 yard line instead of kicking the field goal and getting some points.  There comes a time when you have to be smarter than what everybody says you are.  Payton wasn't.   Instead, the Pack took the possession and went 93 yards and that was nearly the ball game.  Give the Saints -Payton and Brees (32-49-0 419 yards, 3 TD's) credit .. they brought the Saints within a yard of potentially putting this opener into overtime as Ingram came up short at the 1 yard line.

Well, we've learned that the Packers -healthy, are lethal.  Rodgers didn't have a running game tonight (only 103 yards on the ground) and they'll have to get more out of it if they're to handle the likes of Philadelphia, Chicago, Minnesota and the other challenges to their title.  They also have to find a way to maintain momentum.  They went no-huddle and they were WICKED, but it looked as though the offensive line got tired and couldn't keep up and they had to abandon it.  That could be as a result of the lockout and the shortened practice time.  It -as well as their rhythm, will get better.  Their defense seemed out of sort and couldn't pace with the Saints though.  And that's a concern, because they will -more than likely, see the Saints again and they may not have the cozy confines of Lambeau Field to keep them company next time around.

The Saints?  Well, their defense, as tough as they were in the second half, still need to be the defense of their Super Bowl year, when they were ball-hawking, turnover-forcing menaces to the NFL society, instead of last years whimpy, pedestrian unit that couldn't force anything to help out their offense.  Plus, they CAN'T leave the play of the game in the hands of Mark Ingram.  I don't care that he's the Heisman Trophy Winner, DREW BREES is the franchise and Payton should be willing to win or die at BREES' hand.  Then, there's Sean Payton.  Like I said before, he's has to be smarter and know WHEN a gamble isn't going to backfire and cost his team later.  Despite Green Bay's press-clippings to start the season, New Orleans, in my opinion is the more talented team.  Tonight they proved they weren't the smarter team.

It's going to be a fun season.