Advertisement

Aaron Rodgers on facing Saints: ‘Going to be a good measuring stick for us’

The Green Bay Packers are 2-0, with a pair of impressive division wins to start the 2020 season, and now Matt LaFleur’s team will get a chance to solidify their status as one of the NFL’s elites when they go on the road to face one of the NFC’s top teams from a year ago in Week 3.

Sean Payton, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints await the Packers on Sunday night.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers believes the Saints are for real again in 2020, and facing them in New Orleans in primetime will provide a litmus test of sorts for the Packers, one of the NFL’s 11 remaining unbeaten teams.

“Both the Saints and us have aspirations that, I think, are real. They’re a really talented team, and so are we,” Rodgers said. “This is going to be a good measuring stick for us.”

The Saints won 13 games and were NFC South champions a year ago, and they beat Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to open the season. Monday night’s 34-24 defeat in Las Vegas raised questions about Payton’s team, but Rodgers respects the talent assembled in New Orleans and knows Brees can score points at will at home after watching him drop 95 total points on the Packers in the last two meetings between the two teams at the Superdome (2008, 2014).

“You know you have to score points against them,” Rodgers said.

The winner of the last five meetings between the Packers and Saints averaged 38.2 points. Three times, the winner scored 40 or more.

While the Saints might not have All-Pro Michael Thomas, the Packers offense could be without Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Green Bay’s passing game has looked terrific to start 2020, but Adams’ potential absence could complicate matters, especially against a veteran defense with experience in the secondary.

Rodgers said he has a “ton of respect” for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and the Saints personnel on defense, which includes edge rusher Cam Jordan, linebacker Demario Davis, cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins and safety Marcus Williams.

The Saints also added veteran defensive back Malcolm Jenkins this offseason.

“A lot of veterans, a lot of guys over 30, who have been around played a lot of football,” Rodgers said.

The Saints didn’t lose back-to-back games last season, and they’ve been one of the best primetime home teams in the NFL since Brees and Payton teamed up in 2006. In fact, the Saints are 10-0 in their last 10 Sunday night games in New Orleans.

The Packers dismantled two overmatched NFC North rivals and look like a legit contender to start 2020. Everyone will agree if they can beat the Brees and the Saints in the Superdome on Sunday night.

Related

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers explains why the football is coming out quicker in 2020

Saints should provide perfect litmus test for high-flying Packers