GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — As far as Aaron Rodgers is concerned, that should just about silence any further questions about
why the Green Bay Packers didn’t work out as a team during the lockout.

If Thursday’s season opener at Lambeau Field could be considered a referendum on the importance of those player-led team workouts, the results are in after the Packers’ wild 42-34 victory over the New Orleans Saints: The sessions Drew Brees led over the summer weren’t enough to help the Saints take down the reigning champions, and the Packers’ decision not to get together as a team certainly didn’t seem to hurt them.

“That was a good start for us,”Rodgers joked afterward. “But I’ve just got to ask myself, ‘What would have happened if we
had had offseason workouts?’ Could we have started any faster and scored more points tonight?”

Rodgers came out on top in a memorable opening-night duel with Brees. And after allowing 477 total net yards to the Saints,
the Packers defense made a goal-line stand on the final play of the game.

“We had some problems defensively, but that’s a very good offense and he’s a great quarterback,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said of Brees. “Sean (Payton) does a great job on offense. This will be a great experience we can learn from.”