The New Orleans Saints had more problems to deal with than any team in the National Football League leading up to the opening of the regular season.
Hurricane Ida ravaged the New Orleans area and made playing their final preseason game scheduled at home against the Arizona Cardinals unwise to play. So, they didn’t. The storm also forced the Saints to give up their home opener and play rather on a neutral field, which was the Jaguars home in Jacksonville.
This was also the first season after nearly two decades of glorious play at quarterback from Drew Brees that the Saints would need to turn to a new signal caller. Their choice was one time Buccaneer Jameis Winston, who was as inconsistent at his initial pro stop in Florida as a jalopy struggling to start on a cold morning.
What else could go wrong?
How about this, have that opening game be against the highly regarded Green Bay Packers and the reigning league Most Valuable Player, Aaron Rodgers. Even before the site switch was announced, the Saints were going to be underdogs for their encounter with the defending NFC North Division champions.
Once the game switched to a neutral site, the Packers favorite role on the spread jumped two points.