Saints vs. Packers: 3 Bold Predictions for Week 1 Thriller

It’s finally prediction time.

The Saints and Packers are less than 48 hours away from kicking off the 2011 season and the messy offseason is in the past.

The two most recent Super Bowl champs meet at Lambeau Field in a game that fans have been waiting for since the schedule came out in the spring.

Here are three predictions to keep an eye on for Thursday’s opener.

1. Saints D-Line Will Dominate

New Orleans didn’t get a ton of pressure on the QB in 2010, and boy, did they make up for it in the offseason.

They signed humongous defensive tackles Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers to help clog the trenches. The Packers already had a weak running game, and expect James Starks and Ryan Grant to put up abysmal numbers.

The Saints also drafted defensive end Cameron Jordan to help create more pressure.

Considering it was his specialty a Cal, expect Jordan to have an instant impact, pressuring Aaron Rodgers into questionable throws.

2. Packers Secondary Will Struggle

Sure, the defense was superb last year. Clay Matthews, B.J Raji and Charles Woodson are all great players.

But the unit as a whole is going to take a step back.

This year, they will be returning 10 starters, but the one missing is what really matters. Cullen Jenkins set the tone up front and the entire D-line will struggle to replace him. Second-round pick Mike Neal is the replacement, and the jury is still out on whether or not he can create pressure.

With more time to throw the ball, Drew Brees is going to carve up a secondary that is used to a great front four. The 34-year-old Woodson will begin to show his age and the Saints are going to beat the Packers secondary early and often.

3. Saints Will Win 34-27

The Packers are going to find out quickly that losing Jenkins is a bigger blow than expected. Combine that with a weak running game against a strong Saints D-line, and two of the four Packers units are going to struggle.

Sure, Rodgers will put up big numbers and keep his team in the game till the end. But the Saints are the more balanced team and will use the leadership and experience of Brees to pull off the Opening Day upset and set the tone early in the NFC.