Saints head coach Sean Payton (left) and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan have had success at home. Credit: Associated Press

Green Bay — Under coach Sean Payton, the New Orleans Saints have won 19 straight games at home.

By a 3-1 vote of three executives in personnel for NFL teams and an assistant coach for a recent Saints' opponent, the Green Bay Packers were picked to end that streak Sunday night at the Superdome.

"I'll predict the Packers are the team to finally bring that thing down," an NFC personnel man said. "I think Green Bay is playing pretty good defense right now.

"It's difficult down there to win. That's a whole different world down there."

He called for the Packers to win, 24-21. Two others had it for Green Bay, 35-17 and 34-27.

Another scout from an NFC team has the Saints prevailing, 27-24.

"The dome and pressure to win at home will put the voodoo ghosts in the Saints' favor," he said. "Payton will be all over (Rob) Ryan to eliminate defensive confusion and try to eliminate easy TDs. They do have the ability to create pressure."

The streak at home with Payton skips 2012 because of his year's suspension for Bountygate. Since losing the 2010 regular-season home finale, Payton's teams are 18-0 in the regular season (2-0 this year) and 1-0 in the playoffs.

"What you've got to do is weather the storm there," an NFC assistant said. "And you've got to match 'em early, which I think Green Bay will do.

"Jordy (Nelson) is going well, the back (Eddie Lacy) is back again. Green Bay will move the ball on them at will. If Green Bay doesn't turn the ball over they'll win."

Underscoring the home-field advantage is the fact that the Saints, a 1 ½-point favorite, are an eye-opening 17-1-1 against the spread during the streak. Only 11-point underdog Tampa Bay, which fell in overtime, 37-31, in Week 5, beat the spread.

New Orleans has outscored the opposition, 34.6 to 17.7, in those 19 games. On the other hand, Payton's teams are a mere 9-14 on the road, including 0-4 this season.

"What should be a great matchup of elite quarterbacks will turn into another prime-time blowout," an AFC personnel man said. "The Saints' defense cannot slow anyone down."

OFFENSE

SCHEME

Play-calling coach Sean Payton has a coordinator (Pete Carmichael) but he runs the show. Payton does it all: a myriad of formations early, RB screens, no-huddle, shifting, motion, empty sets, bunches of receivers and frequent chip-blocking. Although the Saints run it well (123 yards per game, 4.9 per carry), Payton is impatient with the run (35.8%). The Saints rank second in yards (437), 10th in points (25.8) and tied for 20th in giveaways (12).

RECEIVERS

The supply of weapons finally has dwindled. Premier TE Jimmy Graham (6-6 ½, 265 pounds) played 30 uneventful snaps Sunday in Detroit, targeted twice and not once being asked to block. He has a shoulder injury, and it's iffy if he'll be more than a decoy. When healthy, Graham can dominate with his speed, stature and hands. Free-agent TE Josh Hill (6-5, 250) is scrappy, athletic and fast while old pro Benjamin Watson (6-3 ½, 255) still can run at 33. Now that Devery Henderson and Lance Moore have departed, Marques Colston (6-4 ½, 225) has slipped somewhat and Robert Meachem (6-2, 215) is over the hill, the WR group no longer is special. Colston operates almost exclusively from condensed positions and remains a matchup problem for LBs. Despite a series of concussions, he must be respected going after sky balls in traffic. Kenny Stills (6-0 1/2, 194), a fifth-round pick in 2013, and rookie Brandin Cooks (5-9 ½, 189) also play extensively. Stills provides vertical stretch with his 4.34 speed but is on the frail side, can get tied up against press and has short arms. Cooks is thin, too, but a tad faster (4.33) than Stills and much quicker. His big-play production has been minimal thus far.

OFFENSIVE LINE

C Jonathan Goodwin, a 114-game starter for the Saints and 49ers, probably won't play with a leg injury. He was replaced Sunday by Tim Lelito (6-3 ½, 315), a second-year free agent with adequate playing experience. Goodwin had slipped and Lelito, more power than athleticism, might represent a push. Lelito will be helped because LG Ben Grubbs (6-2 ½, 310) and RG Jahri Evans (6-4 ½, 318) have combined for six Pro Bowl selections. Evans, a fourth-round pick in '06, and Grubbs, the 29th pick in '07, have shown signs of decline and don't keep the pocket as firm as they once did. Evans remains the better player because of his bulk strength, longer arms and better pass protection. Evans struggled against Tampa Bay DT Gerald McCoy and they both had bad plays against Detroit. LT Terron Armstead (6-4 ½, 304), a third-round pick in '13, leads the group in athleticism and probably is the best player. He's an extraordinary athlete with top strength. His drive blocking and ability to handle power moves inside need development. Mauling RT Zach Strief (6-7 ½, 320), a nine-year Saint and four-year starter, isn't nimble-footed but regains balance quickly, is consistent and moves people.

QUARTERBACKS

Drew Brees (6-0, 209) remains one of the game's biggest names. Presently, he's tied for 17th in passer rating at 91.7 after posting 104.7 in '13. At 35, his supporting cast isn't as good and even more of the burden has fallen on his shoulders. Brees is an all-time leader, underrated athlete and tremendous performer in the clutch. He throws with amazing anticipation, touch and accuracy. He lacks arm strength to drive the deep out so his preferred target area is between the numbers. Brees seems to be getting less effective against heavy rush. Not unlike a latter-day Brett Favre, he refuses to take sacks and suffers interceptions as a result. Athletic Luke McCown (6-4, 217) has just nine starts in 11 years.

RUNNING BACKS

Starter Mark Ingram (5-9, 215), the 28th pick in '11, returned Sunday from a three-week thumb injury. He can't go the distance but is tough and pushes the pile. Spelling him is Khiry Robinson (5-9 ½, 220), who runs just 4.75 but has vision and breaks tackles. Master screen runner Pierre Thomas (shoulder) is out so the third-down back becomes Travaris Cadet (5-11 ½, 210), a capable receiver. FB Erik Lorig (6-3 ½, 250) is back and might replace converted LB Austin Johnson (6-1 ½, 240).

DEFENSE

SCHEME

Flamboyant second-year coordinator Rob Ryan is known for exotic pressures that bluff and blitz all day long. According to STATS, the Saints rank seventh in blitz frequency (34.8%). From a 3-4 base, Ryan plays more even fronts with two LBs and three safeties. He employs an "amoeba" third-down look with four big people milling about pre-snap. The Saints rank 21st in yards (373.7), 28th in points (27.5) and tied for 30th in takeaways (four).

DEFENSIVE LINE

DEs Cameron Jordan (6-4, 287), the 24th pick in '11, and Junior Galette (6-2, 258), a rookie free agent in '10 from Division II Stillman, combined for 27 sacks in 18 games last season. Strong, long-armed (35 inches) and fast (4.75), Jordan wins with quickness off the edge or bull rushing. Give him a lane to the QB and it's hard to shove him aside. Galette runs just 4.81 but is fast out of his four-point stance, closes in a hurry and never quits. Sometimes out of control but ever dangerous, he qualifies as a poor man's Clay Matthews. DT Akiem Hicks (6-4 ½, 324), a third-round pick in '12 from Canada, uses his imposing size and long arms (35 1/8) to hold the point. A top athlete, he's more just a pocket pusher, too. Former Eagle-Bronco NT Brodrick Bunkley (6-2 ½, 315), the 14th pick in '06, plays the run fine but is iffy (concussion). Gigantic John Jenkins (6-3 ½, 359), a third-round pick in '13, is a serviceable spare. DT Tyrunn Walker (6-3 ½, 294) isn't bad rushing inside on throwing downs.

LINEBACKERS

SILB Curtis Lofton (6-0, 241), a Falcon from 2008-'11, is well on his way to leading a defense in tackles for the sixth time in seven seasons. He's a reckless, nasty, hard-hitting force, never leaving the field. He has lost some of his 4.68 speed and can be exposed in coverage. However, he takes good angles, diagnoses well and reacts to the ball. WILB David Hawthorne (6-0, 246) started in Seattle from 2008-'11 before departing as a free agent. Hawthorne doesn't cover as much ground as Lofton and isn't quite as good, but he's still a better than average player. When Ryan needs a stack-and-shed presence, OLB Parys Haralson (6-1, 255) gets the call. A 49ers' starter from 2007-'11, he always plays mean and hard.

SECONDARY

The Saints took a hit in Game 4 when FS Jairus Byrd suffered a season-ending knee injury. A Pro Bowl pick for Buffalo in '13, Byrd received $26.3 million guaranteed March 11 to replace departed Malcolm Jenkins as the ball-hawking brains of the operation. Despite the fact that Byrd was off to a sluggish start, it left Ryan without a stabilizing force in a shaky secondary. SS Kenny Vaccaro (6-0, 214), the 15th pick in '13, suffered a broken ankle in late December and hasn't played back to his strong rookie form. He'll still hit your butt but there are reservations about his range. Ever-improving Rafael Bush (5-10, 200), playing for his third team, is faster (4.48) and probably a better hitter than Byrd but isn't able to tie it all together yet. Marcus Ball (6-1, 209) became the third safety and manned the slot in Detroit. Former Steeler CB Keenan Lewis (6-1, 208), who received $10.5 million guaranteed in March 2013, hasn't been quite as effective as in his boffo debut season. He has exceptional size, a 38½-inch vertical jump and competitive speed. The Saints can only hope the hamstring that he injured late Sunday isn't an issue. RC Corey White (5-11 ½, 205), a fifth-round pick in '12, loves to attack in run support but has safety-type cover skills. CB Patrick Robinson (5-11, 191), a late first-round bust in '10, blew out his knee in September 2013. He might return as the nickel after sitting out Sunday (knee). Rookie CB Brian Dixon (5-11 ½, 195) is raw but runs 4.45.

SPECIAL TEAMS

P-KO man Thomas Morstead is outstanding. His Aussie-style short punts pin foes deep. Shayne Graham, 36, has missed one FG and one extra point. His glossy 85.7% career mark covers stops with 14 teams, including three clubs twice. Cooks (punts) and Cadet (kickoffs) are ordinary returners.

GAME-BREAKER

WR Marques Colston had the best game of his so-so season against Detroit, catching six of 10 targeted passes for 111 yards. His averages in the first five games had been just three for 49.6. In four games against the Packers, Colston has been dynamite with 20 catches for 362 yards (18.1 avg.) and three TDs. His longest gain, 70 yards, came in the last meeting at the Superdome when Charles Woodson and Aaron Rouse were out of position. In the last meeting ('12), his nine-catch, 153-yard outburst included a 20-yard seam route for a TD against Morgan Burnett, an over route for 26 against Burnett, a 23-yard slot catch against D.J. Smith and a 27-yard seam route against Sam Shields.

WEAKEST LINK

Like so many of the Packers' opponents, it's the secondary. The Saints rank 28th in passing yards allowed (270.5) and 24th in sack percentage (nine). Their opponents' passer rating is 99.9. Last year, the Saints ranked second in passing yards allowed (194.1) and fourth in sacks (49), and their opponents' passer rating was 83.6. Among the players leaving were CB Jabari Greer, FS Malcolm Jenkins, SS Roman Harper, LB Jon Vilma and DE Will Smith. Rob Ryan achieved far more (the Saints' defense ranked second in yards, third in points) than his personnel warranted in Year 1 as coordinator. A weak secondary has undermined his second season.

McGINN'S VIEW

When the Saints decided Jabari Greer was finished physically, they had the entire off-season to solve their gaping hole at cornerback.

Essentially, coach Sean Payton made two moves to shore up the position.

Champ Bailey, whose illustrious 10-year career in Denver ended with his release in March, was signed April 9 to a two-year contract that contained $500,000 in guarantees.

Stanley Jean-Baptiste, a cornerback from Nebraska, was drafted in the second round with the 58th overall selection.

Payton's signing of the 35-year-old Bailey seemed ludicrous. In the Super Bowl, Seattle's Russell Wilson matched Doug Baldwin in the slot against Bailey whenever he needed to keep a drive alive. It happened three or four times.

It was rather sad watching Bailey, 12 times a Pro Bowl choice, unable even to challenge an average starter like Baldwin. True, Bailey had been back for only five games after missing 11 games with a Lisfranc foot injury, but at a speed position there was no reason to think he'd be better in 2014.

Obviously, the Saints counted on Bailey to be a key member of a rebuilt secondary. There probably were 15 to 20 unemployed cornerbacks better than Bailey but the Saints went for him.

Predictably, Bailey suffered another foot injury early in camp and missed most of August. He returned late, then was cut Aug. 30. He had a workout or two in September but hasn't been signed and probably won't be.

Jean-Baptiste, a height-speed prospect, looked so raw in camp that he wasn't even active for the first three games. He's playing behind Brian Dixon, a rookie free agent.

Only two cornerbacks had been taken, Justin Gilbert and Kyle Fuller, when Payton used the 20th pick of the first round on Brandin Cooks, the fast little wide receiver from Oregon State. Cornerbacks Darqueze Dennard, Jason Verrett and Bradley Roby would be chosen in the next 11 picks.

Cooks has been just OK.

If the Saints continue leaking yards in the secondary, they should remember their evaluations of Bailey and Jean-Baptiste.