This is a crucial game for both teams as both the Packers and Saints are 5-5 on the season.  The Packers will probably come out running the ball with Ryan Grant who finally appears to be 100% healthy.  The Saints allow 111.0 yards rushing per game and 4.3 ypc so there’s no reason to expect Grant not to approach 100 yards on the ground.  Aaron Rodgers will likely also have a good game against a Saints’ defense allowing 235.2 yards passing per game.  Greg Jennings and Donald Driver could both have great games against the Saints on Monday Night.

The Saints would be smart to run a more balanced offense this week to take advantage of the Packers’ weakness in defending the run.  Pierre Thomas could be in line for a huge game if Reggie Bush isn’t ready to go against a Packers’ defense allowing 147.4 yards rushing per game and 4.9 ypc.  Still, the Saints will no doubt challenge the Packers’ pass defense which is allowing only 176.3 yards passing per game and they also have 16 interceptions this season.  Still, the Saints have enough weapons in the passing game for Drew Brees to pick where he wants to throw the ball.

PREDICTION:  NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 34, GREEN BAY PACKERS 33

The Saints have lost starting DE Charles Grant for the season due to a serious triceps injury.  Grant played in 8 games for the Saints this season and he made 33 tackles, had 3 sacks, defensed 2 passes and he also had a safety.  This will hurt the Saints’ pass rush big time and that’s not a good thing when you consider the secondary that they are playing.

The New Orleans Saints cut both kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and punter Ben Graham during the bye week.  To replace them the Saints have signed undrafted rookies Garrett Hartley (K) and Glenn Pakulak (P).  This is a very risky move for the Saints to depend on two rookies the rest of the season.  Hartley was very effective in his last two seasons at Oklahoma as he nailed 32 of 35 field goals (91.4%).  Hartley will be replacing rookie Taylor Mehlhaff who played in 3 games for the Saints in which he made 3 of 4 field goals (75%) and 9 of 10 extra points (90%).  Hartley will be the third kicker for the Saints this season as Martin Gramatica was the starter when the season started before he was injured.  Ben Graham punted the ball 3 times for the Saints covering 126 yards (42.0 avg) including 1 punt that landed inside the 20 yard line.  Steve Weatherford was the Saints’ starting punter when the season started but the Saints got tired of him before cutting him loose.  This is a very risky thing for the Saints to do heading into the 2nd half of the season where every game seems to mean more.

This is probably not a good matchup for new head coach Tom Cable in his Raiders’ debut.  The Raiders will come out running the football against a Saints’ defense that stuffed Adrian Peterson and the Vikings last week.  Still, the Raiders will likely rotate Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush to keep all of them fresh.  The Raiders are averaging 155.0 yards rushing per game and 4.8 ypc so they should have some success as the Saints allow 107.0 yards rushing per game and 4.5 ypc.  QB JaMarcus Russell definately has the arm to get the ball deep and the Saints will be without rookie CB Tracy Porter who is out for the season due to surgery to repair a dislocated wrist.  TE Zach Miller is Russell’s favorite target in the passing game but Javon Walker or Ronald Curry could have a good game here to jumpstart their season.

The Saints will try to throw the ball downfield to get the lead early to take the Raiders out of there running game.  Devery Henderson (31.7 avg) and Robert Meachem (33.6 avg) have been getting down the field and the Saints will no doubt be attempting to stretch a Raiders’ defense that is allowing 212.8 yards passing per game.  WR Lance Moore and TE Billy Miller will handle the tough stuff over the middle of the field for Drew Brees (97.7 QB Rating) who is having a outstanding season.  The Raiders’ defense better be ready to deal with Reggie Bush who has 533 combined yards rushing and receiving already this season.

PREDICTION:  NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 30, OAKLAND RAIDERS 20

This game really hurt the Saints who outplayed the Vikings for the most part but still lost the game.  Drew Brees completed 26 of 46 passes for 330 yards and he had a TD pass, but, he also lost a fumble and threw two pickoffs.  Reggie Bush only rushed for 29 yards on 12 carries (2.4 ypc) and he caught 7 passes for 64 yards (9.1 avg).  But, Bush also returned 5 punts for 176 yards (35.2 avg) including a 71-yard TD return (3rd quarter) and a 64-yard TD return in the 4th quarter.  WR Devery Henderson also had a great game catching 4 passes for 104 yards (26.0 avg) with a TD.  The Saints finished up with 55 yards rushing on 22 carries (2.5 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 46 passes for 320 yards.

Linebacker Jonathan Vilma led a inspired defensive effort by the Saints with 10 tackles.  The Vikings finished with only 44 yards rushing on 26 carries (1.7 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 37 passes for 226 yards.  The special teams helped and hurt the Saints in this game as Bush’s TDs kept the team in the game.  But, Martin Gramatica missed a game tying field goal attempt late in the game and he also had a field goal blocked and returned 59 yards for a TD by the Vikings’ Antoine Winfield.  The Saints are now 2-3 on the season.