‘Sunday Night Football,’ Packers vs. Saints 2014: Can New Orleans get on track against Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay?

The New Orleans Saints host the Green Bay Packers in what should be an exciting primetime shootout on Sunday Night Football. We have two of the most prolific offenses in the league led by dynamic, fearless quarterbacks playing in front of a national television audience -- a perfect recipe for a great night of football.

This will be the fourth time that Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees face off, and in the three previous meetings -- 2008, 2011, 2012 -- their teams have combined to average 70.3 points per game. That is the second-highest combined scoring average between opposing teams that have met at least three times since 2008, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Rodgers and the Packers own the edge in wins, 2-1, while Brees has been the more prolific quarterback in those meetings, averaging 396 yards per game compared to Rodgers' 296.

Many expected the Saints to contend for a Super Bowl berth this season, but with a 2-4 record entering Week 8, they have been one of the more disappointing teams and face a huge challenge to even make the playoffs. Only three teams in the last 10 seasons made the postseason after losing at least four of their first six games: the 2004 Packers, 2008 Miami Dolphins and 2011 Denver Broncos. The one saving grace for the Saints is that they are in the NFC South, which is easily the worst division in football.

Although Peyton Manning has stolen most of the headlines among quarterbacks this season, Rodgers is quietly putting up an historic season himself with his near-perfect play under center. He has thrown 18 touchdowns and just a single interception, the first player in NFL history to have that many passing TDs and one or fewer picks through the first seven games. He hasn't thrown an interception in his last six games, tying Bart Starr's franchise record (min. 15 attempts) set in 1964. And he has three straight games with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions, joining Tom Brady (2007) as the only players ever to have a streak like that within a season. There is a good chance he'll continue to put up record-breaking numbers on Sunday night against the Saints, who are allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game.

If history is any indication, the Saints are poised to start a winning streak on Sunday night and climb back into playoff contention. New Orleans has won 13 straight primetime games at home (including playoffs) dating back to 2009, and its average margin of victory in those games is nearly 20 points. The Saints have also been nearly unbeatable recently at the Superdome regardless of the time of day, winning their last 19 home games, including the playoffs, under head coach Sean Payton. That streak includes their only two wins in 2014, against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.

The Saints have suffered more than their share of tough losses this season. Three of their four losses have come by three points or fewer, the exception being the 38-17 loss to the Cowboys in Week 4, and in each of those three defeats they had a lead in the fourth quarter. The Saints are the only team in the league to blow three fourth-quarter leads and are also the only team to lose three games by three points or fewer. They had just three losses by three points or fewer in their previous three seasons combined.

Randall Cobb may be the No. 2 wide receiver on the Packers depth chart behind Jordy Nelson, but that doesn't mean he's lacking in highlights or game-changing plays. Cobb has an NFC-best eight touchdown catches this season despite being thrown at only 47 times in seven games. He has emerged as Rodgers' favorite target in the red zone and has not disappointed when given the chance to put points on the board. Cobb has caught nine of 12 passes inside the 20, seven of those resulting in a touchdown.

Jimmy Graham could be the "X" factor in the Saints' offense if he's healthy, a question that remains after he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 5 against Tampa Bay. Graham returned to the field after the bye week and played on Sunday in Detroit, but he was mostly a non-factor and appeared to be used as a decoy more than anything else. Graham is matchup nightmare when he's at his best, too fast for linebackers in coverage and too physical to be contained by cornerbacks. Since his breakout season in 2011, no receiver or tight end has more touchdown catches than Graham (39).

Radio: Packers Radio Network, Saints Radio Network

Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile | NBC Sports

New Orleans and Green Bay are set at EVEN, with an over/under of 56, according to OddsShark.

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To keep up on the Saints, head over to Canal Street Chronicles.