New Orleans Saints: What we learned in blowout Week 1 win

The New Orleans Saints faced the Green Bay Packers in their season opener and poured it on the Pack, winning 38-3.

Immediately right off the bat, the first thing that pops out at you about this 2021 New Orleans Saints team is defense. This defense is for real.

Throughout the first half, Saints bookend defensive ends All-Pro Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport harassed and hurried future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. The consistent pressure applied by the defensive front allowed the new-look secondary to make plays on the back end. Rookie cornerback Paulson Adebo intercepted Rodgers on a crucial red-zone drive in the second half.

The black and gold defense didn’t stop there late in the third quarter ball-hawking, as All Pro free safety Marcus Williams came up huge on an overthrow by Rodgers for the second interception of the day for the defense.

New Orleans Saints defense played well as a collective unit limiting Rodgers to just 69 yards in the first half and 15 for 28 133 yards 0TDs 2ints for the game.

What we learned about this new look New Orleans Saints offense is quite similar. The New Orleans Saints offense coached by Sean Payton and led by Jameis Winston wined and dined against the Packers defense.

The new-look offense looked like they have been playing together for years and that’s a credit to head coach Sean Payton. As we’ve seen in past seasons when retired future Hall of Famer Drew Brees has been out of the lineup, Payton has found unique ways of winning when he’s without his marquee players.

Jameis Winston had a solid opening performance for the Saints going 14 for 20 with 148 yards and five touchdowns on the afternoon. His first touchdown of the game came from NFL touchdown leader from a season ago Alvin Kamara who hauled in a one-yard pass for a touchdown.

Winston continued to have a great day throwing the ball connecting with tight end Juwan Johnson for another two scores before finding veteran wide receiver Chris Hogan in the back of the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the day.

To cap off his great day, Winston went deep to find Deonte Harris on 55-yard touchdown bomb, something that has been missing in a Payton offense for some years now.

Overall what we’ve learned collectively from week one is that this Saints team is still a top tier contender and that this isn’t Brees’ Saints — This is the new look younger Saints team with the same goals of teams of the past: Win and contend.

The 2021 New Orleans Saints are the real deal and are legitimate contenders for the playoffs and Superbowl.

Under head coach Sean Payton the ceiling for improvement is limitless.