Saints Begin Post-Brees Era with 38-3 Rout of Packers

The New Orleans were facing the Green Bay Packers in a game displaced to Jacksonville because of Hurricane Ida. The four-time NFC South defending champions were beginning life without quarterback Drew Brees, with Jameis Winston now assuming the role of starting quarterback for Sean Payton’s squad. Opposite New Orleans was Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, off a tumultuous offseason in which Rodgers threatened to leave the team.

The Saints started the game controlling the clock and dominating both lines of scrimmage. New Orleans held a massive time of possession and plays advantage, taking a two touchdowns lead into halftime at 17-3. To the point Jameis Winston had thrown two touchdown passes, with no turnovers.

In the second half, the Saints would keep applying pressure on Aaron Rodgers, intercepting him twice and scoring 21 consecutive points to increase the lead to 38-3. The Packers would then enter Jordan Love in the game early in the fourth quarter, throwing the white flag. The Saints would eventually win the game 38-3 in a rout.

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Here is a live quarter-by-quarter description of how the game unfolded:

FIRST HALF

First Quarter

Green Bay wins the coin toss and defers, the Saints start the game with the ball. Winston drives the Saints into Packers’ territory, using his legs and some timely passing. Saints eventually stall outside the 25-yard line of the Packers and Aldrick Rosas converts a 44-yard field goal.

Packers take over at their 25-yard line and fall short of a first down on a great tackle by linebacker Kwon Alexander. Green Bay elects to go for it on 4th-and-1 at their own 34-yard line. Rodgers converts on fourth down. Saints eventually force the Packers into a punt.

GB: 0 - NO: 3

Saints take over at their 25-yard line and pick up two first downs using the running game with Alvin Kamara. Winston finds Deonte Harris for a pass into Packers territory. On 3rd-and-8, Winston runs for a first down. Saints get deep into the red zone as the quarter ends in a quarter dominated on the clock by New Orleans.

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Second Quarter

Saints start the quarter by getting to the 3-yard line. On 1st-and-goal, Alvin Kamara runs into the end zone for a touchdown. Rosas converts the extra point.

GB: 0 - NO: 10

Packers start from their 25-yard line and begin the drive with two runs with A.J. Dillon for a first down. On the very next play, Marcus Davenport gets his first sack of the season. On 3rd-and-14, the Packers stall and punt for the second time.

Saints start their third drive of the game at their 20-yard line and gain some yardage using Tony Jones on the ground. Alvin Kamara then gets into the act and runs for a first down into Packers territory. Saints stall after a false start penalty, and elect to go for it on 4th-and-7 at Green Bay’s 41-yard line. Saints run a tight end screen to Juwann Johnson and pick up 12 yards for a first down. Alvin Kamara runs inside the 10-yard line for a first-and-goal. Saints face a third-and-goal at the two-yard line at the two-minute warning. Taysom Hill comes into the game and fails to run it into the end zone. Saints go for it on 4th-and-goal and Jameis Winston finds Juwan Johnson for a touchdown.

GB: 0 - NO: 17

Packers take over at their 25-yard line with 1:07 to go in the half. Rodgers finds Allen Lazard for a first down. A penalty on C.J. Gardner-Johnson gifts the Packers a first down at midfield. Rodgers finds Davante Adams for 31 yards to the Saints’ 20-yard line with 07 seconds left on the clock. Green Bay without a timeout attempts a field goal as time expires.

GB: 3 - NO: 17

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SECOND HALF

Third Quarter

Saints kickoff and the Packers start at their 25-yard line. Aaron Rodgers completes passes to quickly get into Saints territory. Packers face a 4th-and-3 at the Saints’ 31-yard line and go for it, a pass interference on Malcolm Jenkins gives Green Bay a first down. Packers get into the Saints’ red zone. Rodgers then throws a pick to rookie cornerback Paulson Adebo for the first turnover of the game.

Saints take over at their own 40-yard line and get one first down to the 50-yard line. Saints eventually stall and punt. Blake Gillikin pins the Packers at their own five-yard line.

Packers face a second down from their two-yard line and safety Marcus Williams intercepts a bomb throw by Rodgers and returns the pick to Green Bay’s 12-yard line.

Saints run the ball twice to no avail, but on third down, Jameis Winston finds Chris Hogan for a touchdown.

GB: 3 - NO: 24

Packers return the kickoff to their 13-yard line. Green Bay faces a fourth down at their own 18-yard line and elects to go for it. Marshon Lattimore breaks up the pass to Davante Adams, Saints get the ball just outside Green Bay’s red zone.

Saints quickly face a 3rd-and-9 after a bad drop by Adam Trautman, and Jameis Winston is intercepted in the end zone, however a rushing the passer penalty bails the Saints out and gives them a first and goal at the 10-yard line as the quarter ends.

Fourth Quarter

Saints start the quarter with a second and goal from Green Bay’s 8-yard line, and Winston finds Juwan Johnson for a touchdown, a beautiful grab by Johnson.

GB: 3 - NO: 31

Packers return the kickoff to their 25-yard line and immediately face a 3rd-and-16 play. Green Bay stalls and is forced to punt.

Deonte Harris returns the punt to the Saints’ 34-yard line. Saints run the ball and get a first down, as New Orleans starts bleeding the clock with a 28 points lead. Jameis Winston then finds Deonte Harris for a bomb, as Harris gets behind Green Bay’s secondary for a 55-yard touchdown. The pass was Winston’s fifth touchdown pass of the game.

GB: 3 - NO: 38

Packers take over at their 25-yard line with Jordan Love at quarterback as Green Bay surrenders. Green Bay moves the ball up to midfield but is forced to punt after a pass breakup by Marshon Lattimore.

Saints start at their 15-yard line, running the ball with Tony Jones Jr. Saints stall due to a holding penalty and have to punt.

Packers get the ball and get into Saints’ territory on a long pass play by Jordan Love to Randall Cobb to the Saints’ 30-yard line. Packers get to the Saints’ 20-yard line and face a 4th-and-1 and convert at the two-minute warning. Packers get to the five-yard line, Tanoh Kpassagnon sacks Jordan Love who fumbles, Saints recover and take a knee to end the game.

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