Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will get their season started in Week 1 on the road against the New Orleans Saints. However, because of damage done in New Orleans by Hurricane Ida, the Saints cannot host games at Caesars Superdome.
As a result, the matchup between the Packers and Saints will be played in Jacksonville at TIAA Bank Field. For the Packers, that move isn’t the worst thing.
Dealing with the Florida heat in early September compared to the climate control of a dome will be something that needs some adjusting. But, the dome has not been kind to Rodgers and the Packers’ offense over the years.
He has made three total stops there, but the first two, in 2008 and 2014, were disastrous. The Packers were blown out both times, losing 51-29 and 44-23. In both instances, Rodgers struggled.
In 2008 Rodgers completed only 56.1 percent of his passes for 248 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He added eight rushes for 36 yards and score on the ground. In 2014, he completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 418 yards, but he threw two more interceptions with only one touchdown. He added two rushes for 21 yards and another score.
So, starting the 2021 season on the road, but in Miami, should be helpful for Rodgers to get his season off on the right foot. New Orleans had one of the best defenses in the NFL last season, but Rodgers looks to have figured some things out against them.
Last season, Rodgers tore the Saints up in their Week 3 matchup, completing 21-of-32 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. It was the first time he had found any success on the road against the Saints in his career.
He will be looking to carry that success over into this season, and he should be able to. New Orleans should once again have a strong defense, but Rodgers can find some success picking on whoever lines up opposite of Marshon Lattimore.
Green Bay also has a deep, talented group of pass-catchers that will present difficulties stopping. Davante Adams will still pace the group, but they have Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers behind him. Aaron Jones has proven to be one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL as well.
Expect a lot of action through the air on both sides. Aaron Rodgers will get his season off to a great start, throwing for 330 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions, leading Green Bay to a 1-0 record to start the season.
