5 New Orleans Saints Who Must Step Up in Postseason to Beat Green Bay Packers

In order for the New Orleans Saints to defeat the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs, some players need to step up and improve on offense and defense.

The Saints’ offense doesn’t need much improvement, as it averages more passing yards a game than any other team in the league (329 yards a game) and is ranked ninth in the league in rushing yards per game with 127.9.

So, they’ve been dominant this season, but there’s always room for improvement.

As for the defense, it's gotten some great play out of Roman Harper, Will Smith, Malcolm Jenkins and Jabari Greer this season, but the Saints need to step up on the defensive line among other key positions.

These are the five New Orleans players who need to step up for the Saints to dethrone the Packers.

Sedrick Ellis

To say that Sedrick Ellis has had a quiet year would be putting it nicely.

Ellis has only 29 tackles this season and an assist on a sack. That’s all of his stats this season with no forced fumbles and very little impact on the game.

If the Saints want to beat Aaron Rodgers, they’re going to have to get pressure on him and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. That responsibility not only falls on the blitzing linebackers and defensive backs, but it falls on the shoulders of the defensive line.

The Saints need Ellis to be a dominant force inside.

Patrick Robinson

It's no secret that the Saints’ weak link in the secondary this season has been Patrick Robinson.

Robinson has shown some improvement from last season, but he still has a long way to go before becoming the shut-down corner the Saints thought they were drafting.

Robinson started off this season shaky against Green Bay, and the Packers ate his lunch. Aaron Rodgers took advantage of whatever matchup Robinson presented them and picked on him for most of the game.

It was an embarrassing performance, and I know Robinson wants to get another shot at those Packers in the playoffs.

After Robinson’s rocky start to the season, he turned things around with back-to-back interceptions against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers.

The biggest problem with Robinson is that he’s been inconsistent for the Saints. At times, he does an absolutely great job, and at other times, he gets beat and the Saints get burned.

He needs to have a consistent performance in the playoffs for the Saints to have success.

Mark Ingram

When it comes to finding players on the offensive side of the ball to step up, you have to get a little bit picky.

Mark Ingram has been injured in recent weeks and has not been in the lineup, so with Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas taking the brunt of the punishment lately, Ingram’s going to have to use his fresh legs to give the Saints the edge on the ground.

Ivory and Thomas have done a remarkable job in the rushing game, and if Ingram can add to that double-edged sword, this Saints rushing attack could become unstoppable.

Ingram came in with a lot of expectations and because of injuries, rotations and schemes, he hasn’t had the performance fans thought he would have, and that’s okay.

The Saints are an unselfish team that uses every weapon they have, but when the time comes for Ingram to carry this team, he needs to be ready.

Devery Henderson

Devery Henderson falls into the same category as Mark Ingram as far as stepping up for the offense.

In the past, Henderson has been that deep threat that Drew Brees and the offense have used to stretch the field vertically, but his number hasn’t been called upon too many times this season.

Henderson has 30 receptions for 455 yards and two touchdowns. Those are modest numbers, and that’s what happens when you’re in an offense that uses so many weapons to its advantage.

Henderson hasn’t had a career-defining year by any means, but I expect his number to be called upon some in the playoffs, and he’s going to have to make plays down the field for the Saints at certain moments.

Henderson can’t drop any wide-open passes down the field because the Saints will need to cash in every opportunity they have against a high-powered offense like Green Bay or a juggernaut defense like the San Francisco 49ers.

Shaun Rogers

Shaun Rogers has been a huge disappointment for Saints fans this year.

The Saints thought they were adding a dominant piece in the middle that would occupy at least two blockers on every play he’s in there, and Rogers just hasn’t lived up to the hype.

Rogers only has 21 tackles this season and no sacks, and that’s not what the Saints had in mind when they acquired him in the offseason.

He has to live up to his potential in the playoffs to help the Saints’ pass rush get pressure on Aaron Rodgers.