The Green Bay Packers have a big opportunity in front of them. Next Monday, they face a depleted version of the New Orleans Saints and if they win, the team clinches a playoff spot.
It has been an eventful season for the Saints, so the version that will be in Lambeau Field on Monday is fairly different from the team the Packers barely beat in 2023.
Head coach Dennis Allen has been fired, and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is the interim. Quarterback Derek Carr is out for the season with a broken hand, and Alvin Kamara’s injury situation is something to monitor.
Meanwhile, Adam Holt, the Saints writer at A to Z Sports, answers four important questions about the Packers’ next opponent.
Derek Carr won't play, and Spencer Rattler will probably be the option. What did the rookie show during his first stint as a starter earlier this season?
Rattler was a mixed bag earlier in the season. There were some flashy downfield throws and scrambles, but he struggled behind a beat-up offensive line and did not handle pressure effectively. When replacing Jake Haener last weekend, he had his most impressive outing so far, including leading the nearly game-tying drive in the final three minutes of play.
Alvin Kamara is injured. If he can't go, how will the Saints replace his production?
Without Taysom Hill as another option, I'd expect tons of Kendre Miller. Wouldn't be shocked to see some read option stuff via Rattler and the running backs, too.
What do you make out of the Saints' season, and what went wrong?
Their early season success fell to its knees once injuries piled up. Close losses under Dennis Allen and unrest in the locker room were ultimately what spurred a change. They've played cleaner football since the interim hiring of Darren Rizzi, but it was simply too little, too late for New Orleans.
Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was one of the hot names early in the season. How was his performance throughout the year?
It's tough to truly gauge Kubiak this year. To start the year, the offense looked incredible with a healthy QB, healthy wideouts, and a starting OL. Without many of those pieces for chunks of the year, he's been limited as a play-caller, and that has been evident. I think he's got legitimate upside as an OC, but it remains to be seen if a new regime keeps him in the building. If not, I think he'd land elsewhere as an OC most likely.
