The Green Bay Packers will open the 2021 NFL regular season on the road at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas to play the New Orleans Saints. The game was relocated to Texas after Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana. Green Bay's offseason was one to forget as rumors swirled that Aaron Rodgers would not return. However, the Packers quarterback is back and so are most of his best weapons. Aaron Jones will start at running back for the Packers and wide receivers Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard give Rodgers several weapons to throw to.
The Green Bay 3-4 defense will be led up front by nose tackle Kenny Clark and ends Dean Lowry and Kingsley Keke.The linebacker corps for the Packers is key to stopping the run as well as defending against the pass and Za’Darius Smith is the best of the group and one of the best in the NFL. The secondary has two solid safeties in Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage but must avoid being burned deep. Last season Green Bay was 13th overall in defense allowing an average of 334 yards of total offense and 23.0 points per game.
New Orleans will open its regular season as the host team, but will be playing in Arlington, Texas after evacuating for Hurricane Ida. The Saints open the season with Jameis Winston as the starting quarterback but Taysom Hill is expected to see snaps under center as well. Running back Alvin Kamara will play a big role both rushing and receiving the ball, while wide receiver Michael Thomas is out for at least the first six weeks.
New Orleans’ 4-3 defense will be led by defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. The linebackers are the strength of the unit with Demario Davis, Kaden Elliss, and K’won Alexander. Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Williams give the Saints hard hitters at safety while Ken Crawley and Marshan Lattimore are shutdown cornerbacks. Last season New Orleans was fifth in overall defense allowing an average of 21.1 points and 310.8 yards per game.
