The big headline coming into the weekend was two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks playing head to head at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday Night Football. The Packers were looking to keep their perfect season start while the Saints were looking to bounce back after a tough loss against the Las Vegas Raiders last Monday.
The Packers got on the board first with an early field goal from kicker Mason Crosby after sack on Rodgers by linebacker Demario Davis forced the Packers to just a field goal. The Saints immediately responded with a touchdown catch by running back Alvin Kamara to put the Saints up 7-3.
Aaron Rodgers struggled in the beginning of the first half in finding his receivers, until he found wide receiver Aaron Lazard for 48 yards on an amazing play. This set up Rodgers to find Lazard again for a touchdown catch to put the Packers up 13-7.
Rodgers had a typical Rodgers game, as he totaled 283 passing yards, three touchdown passes and only one sack. Lazard also had a great game for the Packers, as he ended the game with six receptions, 146 yards gained and one touchdown catch.
Drew Brees struggled to find completions early in the first half. This was until he found wide receiver Emmanuel Saunders for a 10-yard pass to put the Saints up 17-13 to end the first half. Brees ended the game with 288 passing yards, two sacks and three touchdown passes.
Lazard and Rodgers were at it again after a huge 72-yard play for Lazard to set up running back Aaron Jones for a touchdown catch to put the Packers back on top with a 20-17 lead. Rodgers and his offensive line dominated the second half. Rodgers made an incredible throw to tight end Marcedes Lewis for an 18-yard play to extend the Packers lead to 27-20.
RODGERS TO LAZARD FOR 72 YARDS! #GoPackGo
📺: #GBvsNO on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/VANJXsXuUh pic.twitter.com/Xa4GoHGeRB— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2020
Arguably the best player on the field was Alvin Kamara. Kamara made an outstanding 52-yard run for a touchdown to tie the game up at 27-27. He ended the game with 13 receptions, 139 yards gained and two touchdown catches. He made the Packers defense very frustrated, causing plenty of missed tackles throughout the game.
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A fumble by the Saints that was picked up by linebacker Za’Darius Smith led to a Packers field goal to give them a 30-27 lead. Poor defending by the Saints is what led them to lose the game, as several penalties to the Saints’ defense caused Rodgers to make a one-yard pass to tight end Robert Tonyan. That play gave the Packers the go-ahead touchdown to put them ahead 37-27.
After the Saints made a field, they attempted an onsite kick. The Saints were unsuccessful and the game ends 37-30 in favor of the Packers.
Saints’ head coach Sean Payton was disappointed with his team’s performance and knows that they can do better. “We’re not playing well enough,” said Payton to ESPN. “Let’s not fool ourselves. We’re making too many mistakes. We’re not playing disciplined enough on both sides of the ball.”
Veteran quarterback Drew Brees agrees with Payton that the team has to perform better after now losing two games in a row. ”I think we have to take a hard look at what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and we need to do better, bottom line, and be as efficient as we possibly can, create a great sense of urgency” said Brees according to The Washington Post.
Lazard, who was one of the stars of the game on Sunday, spoke very highly of Rodgers’ performance last night. “We have the best deep ball thrower in the league if not NFL history,” said Lazard to ESPN. “To be able to go out there and connect on those plays I think is huge. It’s demoralizing for the defense.”
“We put up 37, which is pretty amazing considering the type of squad they have,” said Rodgers according to The Washington Post. “But we made the most of our opportunities. We did a pretty good job on third down. We kept drives alive. Guys made plays when we had to.”
The Saints hope to shake off their weak start to the season as they visit the Detroit Lions next Sunday at Ford Field. The Packers will welcome a struggling Atlanta Falcons next Monday Night in hopes to make it 4-0 in the season.