NEW ORLEANS (-1.5) at GREEN BAY -- Lots of times in the NFL, because the public reacts so sharply to what it has just seen, the number on a particular game represents an overreaction to the results of each of the teams involved from the previous week. This may be such a case. The Saints went to Cleveland and got their first win for new coach Sean Payton, and unveiled an effective Reggie Bush in the process. There is also some public sentiment toward the Saints because of the excitement that will be created if they return to the Crescent City with a 2-0 record for next Monday night's game with the hated Falcons. On the other side, the Packers were shut out by the Bears in what was one of their worst home performances ever. Brett Favre threw two interceptions, and Chicago, with Rex Grossman at the controls, moved with efficiency against the Green Bay defense. But this dynamic is exactly what gives us an opportunity here. New Orleans comes in as the favorite, and that's a position this team hasn't been in too often: in fact, the Saints haven't won as a road favorite since 2002. In terms of the respective opening-game opponents, the Cleveland offense offered considerably less challenge than the Chicago defense. And Ahman Green gave Green Bay a ray of light where there was a great area of concern, gaining 110 yards last week. One can expect the prideful Favre and his Packer teammates to rebound with a much more spirited effort in light of last weekend's disappointment. And the critics of Payton are still there, pointing out the fact that despite his reputation as something of an offensive guru, his teams in Dallas simply did not score many points. New Orleans shouldn't be trusted laying points on the road, especially with the dark cloud hanging over Bush's status as a Heisman winner due to recent investigations. Don't count on two tank jobs in a row at Lambeau from the Pack either.
THE PLAY: GREEN BAY ****
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