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The New Orleans Saints pulled off what was probably the most surprising upset of Week 1, as they blew out Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, 38-3. The game was so out of hand that the Packers replaced the reigning NFL MVP with Jordan Love with more than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Rodgers passed for just 133 yards and also threw two interceptions in the surprising loss.
Jameis Winston shined in his first official start with his new team, as he completed 14 of 20 passes for 148 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. As you can see by the stats, it wasn't a traditional Winston win where he slings the ball all over the field. His role in Sean Payton's offense is a bit different. It's about being efficient, working off of your playmakers and then taking that deep shot when the time is right.
Winston couldn't have done it by himself, however. The Saints offensive line was completely dominant, as it set the tempo for the long, successful drives Payton and Winston engineered. The defense also played lights out and held the Packers offense without a touchdown.
Many wondered if the Saints would experience a steep drop off with the retirement of Drew Brees. If Sunday was any indication, they will be just fine.
Why the Saints won
The trenches
As we mentioned, the Saints dominated up front on both sides of the ball. The offensive line paved paths for Alvin Kamara, Tony Jones Jr. and even Taysom Hill a couple of times. They kept Winston upright and ultimately allowed New Orleans to do whatever they wanted on offense. Payton kept things interesting in his play-calling, which culminated in a win.
The defensive line also consistently put pressure on Rodgers -- even when the Saints weren't necessarily blitzing. The Saints defense as a whole deserves credit. Even with being thin in the secondary, the unit recorded two takeaways and didn't let Green Bay's playmakers get behind them. The Packers recorded just 229 yards of total offense against a Saints defense that figures to again be a top 5 unit in the NFL.
Why the Packers lost
Lack of offense
The Packers defense did not play great by any stretch of the imagination, but usually the offense can compensate for that by putting up points. That did not happen Sunday. The offensive line couldn't hold blocks, Rodgers didn't look like his normal self, the run game was non-existent and the receivers couldn't get separation in the secondary. Zero touchdowns? That's not the Packers offense we know.
Turning point
With the Saints up 24-3 late in the third quarter, Winston and Co. were facing a third-and-long in the red zone. Winston threw an interception into triple coverage, but the turnover was negated due to a roughing the passer penalty on Za'Darius Smith.
Even a Saints fan could probably admit that this did not deserve a flag:
The penalty gave the ball back to New Orleans and set the offense up with a 1st and goal. Two plays later, Winston threw his fourth touchdown of the game to extend the lead to 28 points. That was a huge call, and while it didn't ultimately decide the outcome, it felt like the moment where a potential Rodgers comeback went from unlikely to impossible.
Play of the game
Rookie corner Paulson Adebo deserves a game ball. He was asked to do a lot in his first start, including covering star wide receiver Davante Adams. On the first drive of the second half, Rodgers felt pressure and threw a red zone interception that Adebo corralled before making a a nice return.
Lacrosse player touchdown
Remember a guy by the name of Chris Hogan? He most recently spent time in the Premier Lacrosse League. He started his career this past year as an undrafted rookie for Cannons Lacrosse Club and was traded to Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club in the middle of the season, but will most likely be remembered for his time catching passes from Tom Brady with the New England Patriots. He returned to football and signed with the Saints in July, however, and caught a touchdown Sunday -- his first touchdown reception since Dec. 16, 2018.
Quotable
"I told y'all I was excited to work with Sean, man." - Jameis Winston
What's next
The Packers return to Green Bay next week, where they will host the Detroit Lions on "Monday Night Football." As for the Saints, they will have their first official "road game" against a divisional rival in the Carolina Panthers. Both teams have new quarterbacks, so this will be an interesting test.
The Drew Brees era is over. Can Jameis Winston lead the Saints back to the playoffs? The CBS Sports app will get you ready for every step of the Saints' 2021 season. If you've already downloaded the CBS Sports app, favorite the Saints so you don't miss any updates.
