NFL Playoff Scenarios: Why Saints Would Win a Packers Rematch at Lambeau Field

Quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints' high-powered offense would beat the Green Bay Packers in a playoff rematch at Lambeau Field in January, and end the defending champs' run at another Super Bowl title.

The Saints nearly beat the Packers in Week 1, losing 42-34, but over the last few weeks Green Bay has looked more beatable than they did earlier in the year.

New Orleans is also peaking at exactly the right time, and their confidence is growing with each passing week.

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“I think this is our best December since this group has been together,” Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief said. “This is the kind of football you want to play right now. If you’re going to peak, this is the time you want to peak. That’s exciting for us.”

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The Saints are headed in the right direction, and despite the fact it's likely they won't get a first-round bye, New Orleans will still get to Lambeau Field anyway.

The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions are the likely wild-card opponents for the Saints, and after they destroy one of those two teams they will beat a good San Francisco 49ers team whose defense does not stop the pass as well as they shut down the run.

In a rematch with Green Bay, the Saints have a fantastic chance at an upset for a couple of reasons. For one, the Packers' pass defense is horrible, and is much worse than it was last year.

Last season the Packers' pass defense was the fifth best unit in the NFL, allowing just 194 yards through the air per game. This year has been a different story, as the Packers have the second worst pass defense, giving up 286 yards per game.

That's a huge dropoff in their ability to defend the pass well, and against Drew Brees, who is the best pure pocket passer in football, Green Bay would have a nightmarish time defending the Saints' high-octane offense.

Brees' passing offense is the the No. 1-ranked unit in the league, and while many people think the Saints are just a throwing team, they also have the No. 9-ranked rushing attack led by talented running backs Darren Sproles and rookie Mark Ingram.

The Saints can run the ball if the pass is not effective early in games. This balance makes them extremely tough to beat, and is a primary reason the Saints have won their last seven games.

Stopping Brees will be quite difficult for the Packers, who have had injuries in the secondary this season.

Brees doesn't have just one go-to target, he has about four or five of them.

Tight end Jimmy Graham has 91 receptions this season and has become an elite player, while receivers Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Robert Meachem and running back Darren Sproles are having fabulous seasons catching the football.

The Saints have too many weapons for the Packers to stop, and after nearly beating the Packers in Week 1 when the NFL lockout limited their preparation for the start of the season, New Orleans will upset the defending champs and head towards another Super Bowl run of their own.

The last team the Packers want to play in the postseason is the Saints because they are a very talented team with a roster of Super Bowl champions that know how to win big games in January.

When Brees and the Saints march into Lambeau Field this January, they will leave winners.

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