Monday night’s NFL report and highlights as the Green Bay Packers booked their playoff spot against the New Orleans Saints; watch the Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am on Friday
Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth while producing the first shutout of the NFL season in a 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints on Monday night.
Green Bay (11-4) earned their fifth postseason appearance in six years and recorded the team’s first shutout since beating Seattle 17-0 on November 14, 2021. The Saints (5-10) were blanked for the first time since falling 13-0 to San Francisco on November 27, 2022.
New Orleans played without injured quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara, with rookie Spencer Rattler finishing 15 of 30 passing for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble.
Green Bay’s margin of victory was its largest since a 55-14 blowout of the Chicago Bears on November 9, 2014. The Packers have now won nine of their last 11 games, with their only losses during that stretch coming against their NFC North rival Detroit Lions.
They will enter the playoffs as a wild card after being eliminated from NFC North title contention Sunday.
Stats leaders
New Orleans Saints:
- Passing: Spencer Rattler, 15/30, 153 yards, 1 INT
- Rushing: Spencer Rattler, 5 carries, 28 yards
- Receiving: Foster Moreau, 2 catches, 33 yards
Green Bay Packers:
- Passing: Jordan Love, 16/28, 182 yards, 1 TD
- Rushing: Josh Jacobs, 13 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving: Jayden Reed, 3 catches, 76 yards
Jacobs ran for 69 yards and a one-yard touchdown on 13 carries, as well as catching four passes for 38 yards.
Jordan Love finished 16 of 28 for 182 yards, including a two-yard touchdown to Dontayvion Wicks. Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson also had one-yard touchdown runs, and Brandon McManus kicked field goals from 55 and 46 yards.
Green Bay’s defense made it a miserable night for Rattler while missing four starters because of injuries: linebacker and leading tackler Quay Walker, cornerback Jaire Alexander and safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. Safety Zayne Anderson had an interception in his first career start.
The Packers scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions. Love found Wicks on third-and-goal to cap the game’s opening drive.
Jacobs’ touchdown capped a 17-play, 96-yard drive that lasted 8:55. It was the Packers’ longest possession of the season in terms of plays and time.
The drive included two fourth-down conversions. Love had a two-yard sneak on fourth-and-one from the New Orleans 45 to open the second quarter. Love then threw a 14-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-two from the 35.
Jacobs has rushed for a touchdown in six straight games, putting him one away from the longest such streak in Packers history.
Brooks’ first career touchdown made it 21-0 with 6:28 left in the second quarter. McManus kicked both of his field goals in the second half.
Wilson capped the scoring with 2:41 left on a drive engineered by backup quarterback Malik Willis.
The Packers will now hit the road to face the Minnesota Vikings, while the Saints host the Las Vegas Raiders at the Superdome in the penultimate Sunday of the regular season.
