Green Bay Packers: 5 Players Who Performed Best in Week 1 vs. the Saints

The Packers had a great win at home on Thursday, despite the game going down to literally the final second. The defending Super Bowl champs look to be in mid-season form, or at least their offense does, as their defense gave up over 400 yards and three Drew Brees touchdowns.

However, this article is going to focus on the positive, as I will list the top five performances by the Packers in Thursday night's game.

Honorable Mention: Donald Driver

Many people doubted Donald Driver's role in the offense for this season; with all of the weapons on offense, and the team getting younger in talent, where will Driver fit in?

Driver answered his doubters to the tune of four receptions for 41 yards, one of them being a key third down conversion at the beginning of the game. His most important catch was the final one, where he tied James Lofton's record in receiving yards. Next week, as long as he gets a reception, he will finally break that record, a clear milestone for the beloved Packers receiver.

5. James Starks

James Starks proved that he wasn't just a one-hit wonder, as he ran for 57 yards and a touchdown on Thursday night, averaging nearly five yards per carry. Starks certainly seems to have that explosiveness that the Packers need in their running game, and with Ryan Grant, the two can fill the void that caused problems for the Packers last year during the regular season.

4. John Kuhn

John Kuhn has clearly become a favorite in Lambeau Field; anyone can tell this when they hear the crowd chanting his name after a big play. Kuhn finished the game with only two rushes for five yards and a touchdown, but his biggest play of the game may be one of the most unappreciated.

During the kickoff return where Randall Cobb ran the ball back 108 yards for a touchdown, Kuhn was key in getting Cobb to the end zone, as when Cobb was nearly tripped up by the Saints at the beginning of his run, Kuhn helped pick him up and keep him upright so he could finish the run.

Kuhn would later get the final touchdown of the game, but him saving Randall Cobb from falling to the ground on the kickoff return may be one of the more underrated plays of the game.

3. Greg Jennings

Jennings was responsible for the first score of the game, as he and Rodgers connected on yet another back-shoulder throw, a pass they perfected in the preseason. Rodgers and Jennings have proven to have great chemistry together, perhaps being of the best quarterback/wide receiver tandems in the league.

Unsurprisingly, Greg Jennings led the team in receiving yards, compiling 89 yards and a touchdown.

2. Randall Cobb

Randall Cobb made quite the opening statement on the first game of his career. He started by catching a 32-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers, which he later would admit running the wrong rout on. Nevertheless, Cobb put together a brilliant play to put the Packers up 21-7, and keeping the momentum on their side.

But Cobb wasn't done yet, as he made what could have been another mistake in the game, but turned it in to the play of the game, returning a kickoff for 108 yards. During the kickoff, Cobb was spun around and was almost down, but Kuhn helped him up, and Cobb was off to the races after that.

For a rookie, it's hard to ask for a better game than Randall Cobb had, catching a touchdown pass and then returning a kick 108 yards for the score. Packers fans are excited about the potential of Cobb, especially given the fact that it was the first time anyone had returned a kick for a touchdown in 10 years.

1. Aaron Rodgers

It's hard not to give the performance of the game to the guy who passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were in the first quarter of the game. Rodgers was brilliant in this game, and although most of his success was in the first half, he played well throughout the game, only decreasing in production because he wasn't on the field for much of the third quarter due to two long Saints possessions, and the Randall Cobb kick return.

Rodgers proved on Thursday night that he is not having any hangover of any sort coming off a Super Bowl win, and is ready to defend the title and repeat this year.