NFL Picks Week 1: Will Saints Spoil Packers' Super Bowl Celebration?

The Green Bay Packers welcome the previous Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints to Lambeau Field as they look to start the defense of their crown on a high Thursday night.

Starting off the season with such a difficult game for both sides isn't ideal, but the winner will have big momentum heading onto the rest of its schedule.

The Saints and Packers could be meeting each other later in the season, as both teams look destined for the playoffs. Similarities between the two sides are plentiful, as both are led on offense by elite quarterbacks with very talented all-around defenses.

This game figures to be a shootout, as Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers will be lighting up the scoreboards from the off.

Whether the Saints or Packers win the game will hinge on who gets the better of their counterpart.

Rodgers will be looking to his returning star tight end and strong starting receivers to outmuscle the Saints' cover men. The Saints have a very talented secondary but lack physically big corners to match up with Donald Driver or Greg Jennings, while Jonathan Vilma will have to have a big game if he is to be able to contain Jermichael Finley.

The Packers will have issues stopping the Saints offense as well, but for different reasons.

The Saints figure to have the most balanced offense in the league after the addition of Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram and re-signing of Pierre Thomas and Lance Moore in the offseason. They will probably run the ball a lot in this game, as Marques Colston has been struggling with a knee injury through the offseason.

Heading into a turbulent atmosphere that should await them on Thursday night in Wisconsin will mean that the Saints will need to weather an early storm from the Packers. The Packers will be as motivated to start this game well as they were to win the Super Bowl last year.

The first quarter will be crucial to see how the team has reacted to last year's success and incorporated Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley back into the offense. If the Saints get on top early, the effects of opening night shouldn't hurt them throughout the rest of the game.

Expect the Saints to hit Jimmy Graham early and often from the tight end position, while Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas will be used to wear down the defense.

The Saints can spoil the Packers' party, but I don't see it happening with the teams' matchups offensively coupled with the expectations surrounding opening night.

While many teams have struggled the season after a Super Bowl, very few have struggled on opening night.

Don't look for this trend to change anytime soon.