GREEN BAY, Wis. — The 1-1 Packers will play their home opener Sunday at noon at Lambeau Field against the 2-0 New Orleans Saints.
Lambeau Field is the longest-tenured home stadium in the NFL. The Packers started playing there in 1957 and it got its current name in 1965. Soldier Field in Chicago is older, but the Bears didn’t start playing there until 1971.
Here are three things to watch when the Packers play the Saints:
State connections
There are plenty of Saints with either Packers or Badgers connections. Former UW stars Ryan Ramczyk from Stevens Point and Brown Deer’s Zach Baun play for New Orleans.
So do former Packers Jamaal Williams (nursing a hamstring injury), Taysom Hill and Jimmy Graham.
Talented Saints defense
Jordan Love and the Packers offense will be facing a huge challenge against the New Orleans defense. Through two games, the Saints have allowed only one touchdown. That was in the final minute Monday night at Carolina when the game had been decided.
New Orleans offense not in sync
The Saints are 2-0 for the first time in 10 years. Their quarterback is Derek Carr, who spent nine years with the Raiders. New Orleans has sputtered on offense. The Saints are thin at running back. Alvin Kamara is still suspended because of an altercation in Las Vegas. Jamaal Williams is dealing with a hamstring issue.
All-time, the Packers are 10-3 against the Saints at home. In those games, the Packers have outscored New Orleans by 126 points.
A 52-3 Packers win in Green Bay in 2005 was a big portion of that.