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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The voice was one Jameis Winston had imagined hearing for a long time.

He saw how Sean Payton's game plans worked for other quarterbacks, the way the Saints coach always seemed to make the right call for the right player at the right time. Winston knew he could be confident in that voice and in what he was saying, probably more so than he has in any other voice in quite a while. That's why Winston chose to come to New Orleans and then stay here and compete for the starting job.

"I trust Sean wholeheartedly," Winston said. "Anytime he's speaking to me and talking about details, I tell him, 'Coach, I trust you. We are always going to rock with you.'"***premium***

The urge is undoubtedly there to make a big proclamation after a game like this. The fact is, Winston outplayed last year's MVP, Aaron Rodgers, and sent him to the bench with 10 minutes remaining in the Saints' 38-3 victory.

Winston looks the part. He instills confidence. One might even be inclined to start wondering if the Saints stole another quarterback. In time, all of that could be true, but for now, perspective is needed. We've only seen Winston play one game for New Orleans, albeit against what many consider the best team in the NFC, and he will need to have many more performances before it is time to go all in. But for now, it is certainly fair to say that Winston was the perfect quarterback to execute Payton's offense during Sunday's game.

And maybe, just maybe, he can do that again and again.

What was great about this game is that everything came together perfectly. The coach needed the quarterback, the quarterback needed the coach, and both needed a strong running game and an even better defense to piece it all together. But given the circumstances and what was at stake, there is no doubt that Payton called one of the best games of his career, one that if everything goes right, might get held up as a magnum opus, like his win over New England in 2009.

Then again, maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves by even introducing the idea of such a comparison. These two will need to win many more games for this one to be remembered.

Still, Payton knew how to pull all of Green Bay's strings. He knew that in the Florida heat, he could rely on the strength of his team – the offensive line – and outlast the Packers. So, early in the game, New Orleans kept the ball on the ground, including Winston's smart decisions to tuck and run and beat up on Green Bay's front seven. And that isn't something the Saints expect to go away. This team plans to rely on its offensive line, and it believes that it can bully other teams in the trenches as a primary part of its identity.

"They're incredible. I feel like, and I know everybody else in here feels like, we got the best o-line in the league," Alvin Kamara said. "They did what I expected them to do. Even with Erik (McCoy) going down (with a leg injury early) and Ceas (Ruiz) moving to center and (Calvin Throckmorton) coming to play guard, it's interchangeable."

Establishing that aspect of the game made everything easier, and it loosened up the Green Bay defense. Once the Saints punched the Packers in the gut, easy opportunities materialized in the passing game. One of the more brilliant moments came on a fourth-and-7 play when Payton called for a delayed screen to Juwan Johnson. As soon as the call came into the huddle, everyone knew it was going to work.

Payton had noticed a tendency from a game the Packers played against the Rams in the way they covered a specific look. A couple of things in that game stand out as the possible things that could fit what Payton was referencing. One of them is a fourth-quarter play where the Rams are lined up the same way as New Orleans, and you can see the end on that side of the field line up to the outside shoulder of the tight end, which is what happened on this snap for the Saints. The Rams, like the Saints, were also able to shift the middle linebackers with motion on that play.

Regardless, whatever New Orleans lifted from the Rams worked to perfection. The Packers were in zone coverage, which meant there would be space for Johnson to get loose on a screen, and Za'Darius Smith was lined up wide, which meant Johnson only had to sell his block for a second to get loose into the open field. Once he released Smith, Winston hit him with a quick pass, and the tight end had plenty of room to run since the motion from the running back to the other side of the field got the linebackers to move.

"(Smith) was pretty big, so I was like, 'Dang, I got to get out of here quick because if not, he's going to get the sack,'" Johnson said. "I just try to do whatever Dan Roushar tells me. I do my pass sets. People don't really see me doing pass sets, but I'm working on them. We knew the exact look we were going to get, and it was pretty much wide open."

The Saints hit another big play from out of a running formation on a 55-yard touchdown to Deonte Harris later in the game. New Orleans came out in three tight-end personnel and sent Harris deep. Winston said he knew as soon as Payton called the play, he knew where he was going with the ball.

"I was on Deonte all day, 'Keep your speed. It is going to come,'" Winston said. "Sean called an amazing game. The offensive line did an excellent job. With the way we dominated the line of scrimmage and the running game, I knew it (deep ball) was eventually going to come. It was open, and we hit it."

That specific play out of that look is an excellent example of something New Orleans used to do with Brandin Cooks. New Orleans used to set up shot plays for him out of this personnel, but those plays have gone to the wayside the last few years. But no longer. The Saints now have a quarterback who can gun the ball down the field, but more importantly, Winston showed he could manage a game effectively.

The quarterback didn't take unnecessary risks. He threw the ball away when he needed to throw it away and tucked and ran with it when he needed to tuck and run. This is exactly the type of offensive game plan that Winston didn't have very often early in this career. Now, he's in a system where he can play a part and won't be relied upon to win every game with his arm.

But make no mistake. None of that is to suggest the quarterback was along for the ride. He was far from that. Some of Winston's best moments came when he avoided the rush and made throws in the face of pressure. Winston evaded the rush on his second touchdown pass and hit Johnson in the back of the end zone despite Packers linebacker Rashan Gary having both his hands on the quarterback when he released the ball.

On his next one, Winston stepped up in the pocket to buy himself more time and then found Chris Hogan in the back of the end zone. And on the 55-yard strike, despite knowing where he wanted to go with it, Winston read the safety and delivered a perfect pass to Harris that traveled 48 yards through the air.

The picture was exciting. The picture almost makes you think that Winston and the offense can do this every game because it looked natural and smooth. It also makes you think this team could easily win 10 games and perhaps be even better than that.

But all of that is for later. For now, everyone else needs to be on notice because, if nothing else, this team proved it will not go away easily, regardless of who is no longer at quarterback.

SIX UP

We normally go with three up and three down, but this game calls for something different.

TE Juwan Johnson – We talked often this summer about how Johnson looked like the best tight end on the team. He proved that point on Sunday. Johnson looks like a mismatch for linebackers and safeties. His ability to go up and get the ball was extremely impressive. He looks like someone who is going to be a problem for defenses.

QB Jameis Winston – Everything that can be said about Winston was said above, but he has to get highlighted here. His performance dictated that. If Winston can be 70% as effective as he was on Sunday throughout the season, this team should be contending for a playoff spot.

S Marcus Williams – Williams’ interception should remind everyone why the Saints felt it necessary to franchise tag him despite being more than $100 million over the cap. The safety read Rodgers’ throw perfectly and took off from the opposite side of the field to pick him off. The play was incredible.

CB Marshon Lattimore – Lattimore battled through a knee injury and reportedly suffered a thumb injury that will need surgery, but he didn’t let any of it slow him down. He only gave up two catches for 37 yards despite matching up with Devante Adams for most of the game – and one of those receptions, a 27 yarder, required a perfect throw to beat him. This performance is why New Orleans signed Lattimore to a five-year, $97.6 million extension.

DE Tanoh Kpassagnon – I think Kpassagnon will be even more impressive on film after this game. He was all over the field, making plays from defensive end, three-technique defensive tackle and as a nose tackle. He was a little unheralded this summer, but showed why the team coveted him on Sunday by picking up a sack, a hit and a hurry.

LB Demario Davis – Davis is still one of the best linebackers in the game. He shined in the running game, in coverage and as a blitzer.

ONE DOWN

TE Adam Trautman – The tight end dropped two passes on a day when Johnson shined. Not a great start for the second-year player. The team will need him to be more impactful in the passing game moving forward.

PRESSURE REPORT

The offensive line held up pretty well throughout this game, and Winston was able to mitigate a lot of what got through. Throckmorton allowed three hurries, Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead both surrendered a hit, and Ruiz only gave up one pressure. Ramczyk also might have had one other pressure. Not bad against a good team.

PASS RUSH REPORT

Kpassagnon and Cam Jordan both had three pressures on initial viewing. Davenport had an unblocked sack and another hurry. Carl Granderson, Albert Huggins and Christian Ringo were also around the quarterback once each.