Let’s start with good news for the Packers and their fans; Green Bay is tied for first place in the NFC North – one loss, no big deal.
Onto the bad news; many Packers’ fans got the blowout they expected Sunday in Jacksonville, but the score was flip-flopped vs. the expectation. “It’s just one game, we played bad, I played bad,” Aaron Rodgers said following the blowout.
Packers’ Head Coach Matt Matt LaFleur shared his post-game thoughts, “Very humiliating and humbling at the same time…they were ready to play, we weren’t. No excuses,” LaFleur said.
Facts – by the numbers:
Packers 3 Saints 38
Turnovers 3 0
Sacks 0 2/15
3rd Down 1/10 5/10
Rushing 43 171
Passing 20/35:186 15/21:151
Tot/Yards 229 322
The feeling:
The collective mood for Packers’ fans going into week 1 seemed to be extremely positive. The NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers was back, seemed happy with the team and ready to lead. New defensive coordinator Joe Barry and his philosophy would provide the spark the D needed in the past 2 seasons. The Packers and Coach LaFleur were pleased to be facing the Saints away from their home stadium (The Caesars/Louisiana Superdome) due to Hurricane Ida. Most of the Pack’s star players were well-rested and ready to go after not taking snaps in the pre-season. And, their opponent was starting a new QB, “let’s sit back and celebrate an easy blow-out win,” was the Packer’s fans’ mindset. Wow, be careful what you wish for.
On offense the Packers’ running game was flat, no player rushed for 20 yards and star Aaron Jones rushed for just 9 yards on 5 carries.
Rodgers had what may have been his worst game as a starter, passing for 133 yards, no touchdowns and 2 picks. He was pulled in the 4th quarter for Jordan Love.
The defense looked out of position, slow, had no sacks, no turnovers and could not stop either the Saints running or passing game in giving up 38 points.
Finally, on the team’s poor play, LaFleur added this from his post-game presser, “when you get both sides of the ball…doing that, you get your ass whipped 38-3.”
Going into week 2 and the Packers’ first home game of the 2021 campaign, Green Bay faces a harsh reality looking at the loss to the Saints; they were out-hit, out-hustled, out-schemed, out-executed and out of sync.
And blown-out.
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