The Green Bay Packers secured their spot in the postseason in dominant fashion, shutting out the New Orleans Saints 34-0 on Monday night. With the victory, the Packers improved to 11-4 and clinched their fifth playoff berth in six years, becoming the first team to record a shutout in the NFL this season.
The win marked Green Bay’s first shutout since defeating Seattle 17-0 on Nov. 14, 2021, and their largest margin of victory since a 55-14 rout of the Chicago Bears on Nov. 9, 2014. It was also a night of frustration for the Saints (5-10), who were shut out for the first time since a 13-0 loss to San Francisco on Nov. 27, 2022.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs continued his remarkable late-season surge, recording 107 yards from scrimmage and scoring a touchdown for the sixth straight game. Jacobs rushed for 69 yards on 13 carries, including a 2-yard touchdown that capped a methodical 17-play, 96-yard drive lasting nearly nine minutes. He added four catches for 38 yards, showcasing his versatility as a dual-threat back.
Jacobs’ touchdown streak now sits one game shy of the Packers’ franchise record, set by Paul Hornung in 1960.
Quarterback Jordan Love efficiently led Green Bay’s offense, orchestrating three touchdown drives on the team’s first three possessions. Love connected with Dontayvion Wicks on a 2-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring, marking Wicks’ fifth touchdown of the season and first since October.
Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson each contributed 1-yard touchdown runs, and kicker Brandon McManus added field goals from 55 and 46 yards in the second half. Backup quarterback Malik Willis helped close the game with a late scoring drive that Wilson capped with his touchdown.
The Packers amassed 188 rushing yards on the night, with Jacobs, Brooks, and Wilson leading the way.
Despite missing four key starters, Green Bay’s defense delivered a stifling performance against a depleted Saints offense missing quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler struggled in his first NFL start, completing 15 of 30 passes for 153 yards while committing two turnovers — an interception by Zayne Anderson in his first career start and a fumble.
The Packers’ relentless pressure and disciplined secondary limited the Saints to just 213 total yards, frustrating the rookie signal-caller throughout the game.
One of the game’s defining moments came during Green Bay’s second-quarter, 96-yard touchdown drive. The possession, the longest of the Packers’ season in terms of plays and time, featured two crucial fourth-down conversions. Love’s 2-yard sneak on fourth-and-1 and a 14-yard pass to tight end Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-2 kept the drive alive.
The Packers’ balanced attack and clock management kept the Saints’ defense on its heels, while the Packers’ defense maintained its dominance from start to finish.
With the playoffs secured, the Packers will shift their focus to a Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, aiming to continue their strong run of form. Having won nine of their last 11 games, Green Bay remains a dangerous wild-card contender.
The Saints, meanwhile, will look to regroup as they return home to host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17.
For Green Bay, Monday night’s victory underscored their status as one of the hottest teams in the NFL, with a potent combination of offensive balance and defensive resilience making them a formidable postseason threat.
