Green Bay Packers (5-2) at New Orleans Saints (2-4)

Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans – TV: NBC

*TV announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya

*Keys to the game: Unleashing Eddie Lacy on the ground in front of a big throng of family and friends as he plays his first NFL game not far from his New Orleans-area home would make for a nice story. Yet, QB Aaron Rodgers, who has an 18-1 TD-to-INT ratio, and his potent receiving cast led by Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb will look to go to town against the Saints’ injury-ravaged pass defense, provided the quarterback is able to continue to dazzle inside and outside the pocket in the face of New Orleans’ exotic pressure packages.

Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will get some notes from his brother Rex, whose Jets defense sacked Rodgers a season-high four times — but was toasted for three TDs and 346 yards.

Drew Brees has enjoyed meetings with Rodgers, throwing for no less than 323 yards in all three head-to-head matchups. But to give his defense a breather, Brees and the Saints must get the ground game going. RB Pierre Thomas is gone for 2-4 weeks with a shoulder injury, putting the onus back on Mark Ingram in his second week back from a month-long absence with a thumb injury. The Packers are 31st in the NFL at 147.9 rushing yards per game allowed. Ingram and Khiry Robinson would love to see TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder) back on the field, the one player the Packers defense would follow with multiple defenders, but his availability is highly questionable.

*Matchup to watch – Packers WR Randall Cobb vs. Saints DB Rafael Bush: Bush is a safety who plays the slot in nickel packages. He could be in for a long night the way Cobb is piling up numbers. He leads all receivers with a career-best eight touchdowns.

*Player spotlight – Saints LT Terron Armstead: In just his eighth career start, Armstead’s feet are held to the fire against a four-linebacker rotation that features Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews. Armstead is quick and athletic, but he’ll also need supreme discipline with little help expected on the flanks.

*Fast facts: Rodgers enters with no interceptions in his past six games, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer Bart Starr’s 50-year-old team record. … The Saints are 6-0 in home Sunday night games and have won 19 straight in the building with coach Sean Payton on the sidelines.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

New Orleans is more desperate but ill-equipped to withstand a shootout with the Packers unless Graham can have an impact and the defense shows more fight than it has to date.

*Our pick: Packers 34-24