The New Orleans Saints returned to action on Friday after they traveled to Green Bay to play the Packers. Black and Gold Ian Book played the whole game and showed improvement from last week’s game against the Houston Texans. Green Bay did come out victorious though with a 20-10 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Packers quarterback Jordan Love started the game off with an 11-yard scramble, but the offense would punt four players later. For the Saints, Ian Book started under center. New Orleans was able to pick up a couple of first downs, including a completion to Taysom Hill, but would flip field position after Book’s short run on 3rd & 12.
Green Bay’s next drive was 14 plays long as they got all the way to the New Orleans six-yard line. Love completed his first five passes in the possession but couldn’t complete his pass on 3rd & GOAL and the Packers took the 3-0 lead with a 25-yard Ramiz Ahmed field goal.
Kirk Merritt on the ensuing kick-off had a 59-yard return to the Green Bay 43-yard line. Back-up center Josh Andrews set the offense back 10 yards with a holding penalty, and the Saints would tie the game with a Wil Lutz 59-yard field goal to end the opening quarter.
The Packers found themselves deep in their own territory after tight end Tyler Davis was called for holding and Taco Charlton sacked Love. Malcolm Roach extended Green Bay’s driver when he committed a roughing the passer penalty on 3rd and 19. Nine plays later, Love connected with Romeo Doubs for a four-yard touchdown.
New Orleans was driving as Book made back-to-back third down completions for first downs to Deonte Harty and Kevin White. The offense was in field goal range at the Green Bay 37, but Book fumbled the snap and the ball was recovered by the Packers and taken to the New Orleans 32-yard line.
Love and the Packers couldn’t get anything going on their next possession and took the 10-point lead with a 45-yard Ahmed field goal at the 2:37 mark of the second quarter.
The Saints late in the half were moving the ball once again, but Book’s pass was intercepted by Micah Abernathy after Hill slipped on his route near the sideline. Linebacker Eric Wilson gave his team another chance with a forced fumble on a Green Bay receiver that P.J. Williams recovered in Packers territory. Book would find wide receiver Chris Olave for a 20-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first half. New Orleans was down 13-10 at halftime.
To start the second half, New Orleans got the ball but had to flip field position as Blake Gillikin punted the ball 81 yards into the end zone. Rookie Abram Smith was also the main back for the black and gold in the final 30 minutes of play.
At the 8:20 mark of the fourth quarter, the Packers quarterback Danny Etling took himself to the house for the touchdown from 51 yards out, extending their lead back to 10.
Book the following drive ran with the ball himself three times for 39 yards to help set up a potential scoring drive, but kicker John Parker-Romo missed the 35-yard field goal.
The Packers would run out the rest of the clock and defeat the Saints 20-10.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Danny Etling
The former LSU Tiger wasn’t in for very long but added to his highlight tape with a big touchdown run to extend and help get the 20-10 win over the New Orleans Saints Friday evening.
BIG NUMBER: 15
The New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers were called for a total of 15 penalties throughout the game as the Saints had nine for 78 yards compared to the Packers’ six flags for 36 yards.
UP NEXT: New Orleans (0-2) will be in the Caesar’s Superdome on August 26th for their final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers (0-1). The kickoff is scheduled for 7:00.