Saints 2023 Week 3 Preview
New Orleans Saints Travel to Wisconsin for Green Bay Packers Duel
The New Orleans Saints have a 2-0 record heading into their Week 3 road trip to Lambeau Field, where they will take on the 1-1 Green Bay Packers. Derek Carr and the Saints’ offense struggled to get on the same page versus Carolina but got rolling in the second half on their way to a 20-17 victory. The Packers led the Falcons by 11, entering the 4th quarter in Week 2, but they could not hold onto the lead. An Atlanta comeback and a failed 2-minute-drill from Jordan Love sent the Packers home with a close 25-24 loss.
The Matchup:
An opportunity to earn a second conference win is available to both squads in this game. Green Bay will be searching for a way to extend their divisional lead as they sit atop the NFC North, but New Orleans and their stout defense will look to put their dominance on display. The Saints are one of nine unbeaten teams remaining this year and hope to head back home with a 3-0 standing. Green Bay will play host to the black and gold live from Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 24, 2023, as the game is broadcast live on FOX at noon CST.
Series History:
In 27 games played between the historical franchises, Green Bay leads the all-time series 17-10. New Orleans got the best of the Packers in a season-opening victory the last time they played in 2021. The teams played at EverBank Stadium, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, due to the Saints’ displacement by Hurricane Ida’s devastation. The Saints and current second-string quarterback Jameis Winston starred in the 38-3 dismantling performance while passing for five touchdowns.
Team Rankings Comparison:
| Rank (Week 2) | Saints | Packers |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 2-0 (2nd NFC South) | 1-1 (1st NFC North) |
| Scoring Avg. | 18.0 (25) | 31.0 (2) |
| Opp. Scoring Avg. | 16.0 (6) | 22.5 (14) |
| Total Off. | 346.0 (10) | 276.5 (26) |
| Rushing Off. | 101.5 (18) | 88.0 (25) |
| Passing Off. | 244.5 (8) | 188.5 (23) |
| Total Def. | 262.0 (4) | 378.5 (27) |
| Rushing Def. | 102.0 (14) | 166.5 (30) |
| Passing Def. | 160.0 (7) | 212.0 (17) |
| Turnover Margin | +1 (12) | +3 (4) |
| Penalties | 10 (25) | 16 (7) |
| Penalty Yards | 77 (25) | 130 (9) |
Current Injury Report:
Saints-
Kendre Miller, RB, Probable, Hamstring
Foster Moreau, TE, Questionable, Ankle
Taysom Hill, QB, Questionable, Knee
Jamaal Williams, RB, Doubtful, Hamstring
Jake Haener, QB, Suspended
Alvin Kamara, RB, Suspended
Marcus Maye, S, Suspended
Packers-
David Bakhtiari, OT, Questionable, Knee
Aaron Jones, RB, Questionable, Hamstring
Christian Watson, WR, Questionable, Hamstring
Rashan Gary, LB, Questionable, Knee
Lukas Van Ness, LB, Questionable, Elbow
Final Thoughts/Prediction:
This game is a tough one. Jordan Love is leading the league in touchdowns and passer rating when throwing from a clean pocket. An aggressive Saints front should get after the quarterback and disrupt his rhythm, but they’ll have a competitive outing against the second-highest-scoring team this young season. As for the other side of the ball, New Orleans has got to find a groove offensively. The team struggles in the red zone after producing just three TDs in eight trips. Carr has been noticeably off the mark on some throws, seemingly because of a lack of chemistry with the wide receivers. The Saints D should perform well enough to keep them in this contest. I’ll take the Saints in a close one, 23-21.
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