Zielinski: Packers’ defense is hurting too

By DAN ZIELINSKI

Everyone’s talking about Aaron Rodgers and the likelihood of him missing the rest of the season with a broken collarbone. While Green Bay’s chances of winning the Super Bowl are slim without the game’s best player, the defense has also struggled to live up to expectations.

Allowing 22.5 points and 326.2 yards per game, the Packers defense will have to try to slow down the league’s fourth-best scoring offense.

The New Orleans Saints are scoring 29 points and tallying 372.2 yards per game. While the Saints are a pass-first team, they’ve also established a respectable running game, averaging 113.8 yards per contest on the ground.

Expect Packers quarterback Brett Hundley to have a solid game and put points on the board. However, it won’t be enough, as the Packers defense will let them down against the Saints.

Prediction: Saints 31, Packers 20