New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (-4), Total 47 |
The 2011 NFL regular season kicks off Thursday night when the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers face off inside Lambeau Field. It’s a marquee matchup featuring the last two teams that have won the Super Bowl.
New Orleans has played in the league’s season-opening contest before, as Thursday will be the team’s third opportunity in four years. The Saints suffered a loss in Indianapolis in its first try before picking up a 14-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings last year.
“The challenges are going into a venue with added excitement because this is going to be a recognition of last year’s championship,” Saints head coach Sean Payton stated about the Packers Super Bowl win of last year. “We have played in this.”
Payton was given a new contract during this week, solidifying him in this role through the 2015 season and many expect the same will be done for quarterback Drew Brees.
Brees finished the preseason 23-of-41 for 304 yards and didn’t throw a touchdown or interception. He has been instrumental in leading the team to the third-most points in the league offensively since the 2006 season.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Saints have been an underdog just four times the last two years, covering half of those contests.
Green Bay begins its 91st season as a member of the National Football League and will be playing just its third Thursday night game in Lambeau Field. The Packers have also posted a 5-0 all-time mark in prime-time season openers, winning four times on Monday night and once on Sunday.
Plenty of offensive fireworks are expected due to the matchup featuring the only two teams to finish in the top 10 in total offense in each of the past five seasons.
Green Bay also ranks sixth in the league by averaging 25.1 points per game since the 2006 season, three spots below New Orleans at 26.9 a contest.
On the other side of the ball, the Packers finished No. 5 in the NFL in total defense a season ago, just behind the Saints at No. 4. It’s an interesting dichotomy for both teams entering the season opener.
The last time these two teams met in the regular season was on Nov. 28, 2008, at the Louisiana Superdome. It resulted in a dominating 51-29 victory by the Saints, as Brees threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns.
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns in the contest, but was also intercepted three times.
Bettors will likely back the Packers due to their 10-5 ATS mark in home games, while the Saints are 7-10 ATS on the road.
