Packers Lose To Saints 38-3 In Regular Season Opener

By Adam Roberts – 9/13/2021

On the first Reaction Monday of the 2021 NFL season, there is a LOT to unpack from the first game of the year for the Packers. And next to none of it is positive.

Jameis Winston found the end zone five times as the Saints beat Green Bay 38-3 in Week One in Jacksonville. After all the drama this offseason, Aaron Rodgers started the year with a rare bad day, throwing for 133 yards, no touchdowns and two picks in the loss. He was pulled early in the fourth quarter, with Jordan Love making his NFL debut for the Packers and completing five of seven throws while also fumbling on a drive to try and put a touchdown on the board.

Head coach Matt LaFleur described the loss as both embarrassing and humbling, but Rodgers took a more “look ahead” approach.

“I’ll let him use those words, and I’ll use ‘it’s just one game'” Rodgers said after the loss. “You know we played bad…I played bad, offensively we didn’t execute very well. It’s just one game, 16 to go.”

The game was largely decided in the first half, with the Saints racking up a massive advantage in time of possession. Offensively, Davante Adams was held to 56 receiving yards, with Aaron Jones being a non-factor with nine rushing yards.

The Packers host the Lions next Monday. Detroit was down big to San Francisco yesterday and while they ultimately did lose, they made a furious comeback at the end to make it a more respectable final score.