Green Bay, WI – October 23, 2017 – The absence of the injured Aaron Rodgers was felt all throughout Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon. With the visiting New Orleans Saints in town, Brett Hundley and the Packers offense were unable to generate enough scoring in a 26-17 loss to the Saints.
Things looked good to begin for the Packers offense. On the first drive of the game the Packers methodically moved the ball on the ground. Hundley did not complete a pass on one official attempt on the drive, but he didn’t need to. The Packers kept feeding rookie running back Aaron Jones and he finally broke free and scored from 46 yards to give the Packers a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Green Bay defense, whom has struggled in recent weeks, came into the game locked in. With the Saints moving the ball, Green Bay was able to intercept future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees not once, but twice in the first quarter. Unfortunately for the Packers, the offense could not capitalize on opportunities created by the defense.
Both Green Bay offensive possessions after the interceptions resulted in punts, and the Saints were finally able to put points on the board. Facing 3rd and 1 at the Green Bay 12 yard line, Mark Ingram took the handoff, saw a big pile up in the middle of the line of scrimmage and bounced it outside left where he found the end zone untouched to tie the game at 7.
Hundley and the Packers came right back. Hundley, who had not completed a pass in the first three drives for Green Bay on two attempts, finally got his first completion as a starter to Ty Montgomery on the first play of the possession. After getting the ball into the red zone, the Packers were facing a 3rd and 4 from the New Orleans 14. Hundley took the snap and looking to throw, but didn’t like what he saw. He scrambled out to the left side and down the sideline where he made a nice cut to take it in for a touchdown and to give the Packers a 14-7 halftime lead.
Facing a 14-7 deficit, Drew Brees got right to work. Brees completed 3 possessions for 56 yards, including a 22 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Coleman. But the Packers blocked the extra point to hang on to a 14-13 lead.
The Packers could not generate anything once they got the ball back, which would be a theme in the second half. After being forced to punt, the Saints offense again moved the ball easily. Green Bay did force the Saints to a field goal, but did surrender the lead. The Packers answered with a field goal themselves, but then again surrendered a field goal to the Saints to go back down 19-17.
Down two with the ball, the Packers ran the ball twice for a net gain of 1 yard. Facing 3rd and 9 from their own 11, Hundley Martellus Bennett for a short gain, and again the Packers were forced to punt. The Saints took the ball at their own 45 with just over 8 minutes on the clock and a 19-17 lead. They proceeded to run 8 plays, go 55 yards, and take 3:30 off the clock. Drew Brees scored from 1 yard out to make it a two possession game and ice it.
The loss drops the Packers to 4-3 on the year. The Packers now enter their bye week and will look to regroup after consecutive losses. Their next game will be Monday, November 6 at 8:30 pm. You can catch all the action on the air on your Marquette County Packers affiliate 98.3 WRUP.