The New Orleans Saints kicked off the 2021 NFL season with a new starting quarterback, No. 1 wide receiver and home court. Coupled with the Saints are competing with the defending MVP, New Orleans may usher in a difficult opening weekend.
The Saints and the Green Bay Packers will be in TIAA Bank Stadium in Jacksonville Sunday afternoon. Due to the impact of Hurricane Ida, New Orleans was forced to practice in Dallas, and the first week of the game was transferred from the Caesars Super Dome.
When the Saints are ready to play a real home game, the Packers are their favorite away three-pointers. Depending on the position change, the betting line now has a maximum of 4 points. FanDuel sports betting. Over/under 50 points.
In the third week of last season, Green Bay defeated New Orleans 37-30 and was at a disadvantage with 3 points. Drew Briss threw three touchdowns and provided the Saints with a passing score of 127.8 in the loss. On Sunday, New Orleans will turn to James Winston, who has started for the first time since the 2019 season.
When Winston was the starting quarterback last time, he led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards and 3 interceptions. The former No. 1 overall pick is Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as his main wide receivers. Winston’s top receivers in Jacksonville are Tre’Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway, neither of whom have reached 450 yards in a single season.
The Packers’ situation is very different. At the end of his third MVP season, Aaron Rogers returned to center. Davante Adams is arguably the best receiver in football. Adams did not play in the victory over New Orleans last year.
In the past few seasons, Fading the Saints has been one of my favorite betting points at the beginning of the season. They somehow achieved 3-16 ATS in the last 19 games in Week 1 and Week 2.
In Jacksonville’s game against the Packers on Sunday, they were at a disadvantage with a 4.5-point advantage.
— Joe Osborne (@JTFOz) September 7, 2021
The Packers won’t let the full-professional left tackle David Bakhtiari protect Rogers, but the quarterback should find a way to counter the defense that lost several starters during the offseason.
The Saints have always been notorious slow starters, even during their dominance in the NFC South. New Orleans led 3-16 in the last 19 games of Weeks 1-2. It has been eight years since the Saints started the season with two consecutive victories.
Given the obstacles on the way forward in New Orleans, this trend is unlikely to change this year.
prophecy: Green Bay, New Orleans, 31-20
Photo: Getty Images North America/Gregory Shamus
