BOB McGINN: Formidable, closely matched head coaches, defensive coordinators, quarterbacks, tight ends and wide-receiver corps. But the Saints can't match Clay Matthews, Green Bay's secondary or home field. The edge goes to the Packers.
TOM SILVERSTEIN: The home team has dominated the kickoff game, and the opportunity to get the Saints at home on grass provides a much better shot for the Packers. Watch whether the Saints force the Packers to run the ball and whether the Packers can. Packers 27, Saints 24.
MICHAEL HUNT: If the Saints cannot stop Jermichael Finley, and there's little reason to believe they can, the rest of the Green Bay offense will do more damage than Drew Brees can make up for in an entertaining opener. Packers 31, Saints 27.
GARY D'AMATO: Mike McCarthy's teams have been notoriously slow out of the gate, and the defense will struggle to stop Brees and Co. Still, the Packers have an embarrassment of riches on offense. If the line can keep Aaron Rodgers on his feet, they'll score plenty of points. Packers 31, Saints 28.
TYLER DUNNE: Expect a shootout that goes down to the final possession. New Orleans' newfound balance prevails this time. Saints 34, Packers 31.
LORI NICKEL: Since 2004, the defending Super Bowl champion has hosted - and won the kickoff game, but the last three were close. In the past, Green Bay would start preparing for the opener in the off-season; this year, they started looking at the Saints really just this week, said Tramon Williams. Could be wild. Packers 27, Saints 24.
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