GREEN BAY – The Packers secured their spot in the NFC playoff field with a dominant 34-0 victory over the Saints on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field.
Here are five takeaways from the shutout:
- That's now five playoff berths in six seasons under Head Coach Matt LaFleur.
It's not as though some huge celebration ensued, because making the playoffs is just one objective, not the main one. But the players certainly don't take it for granted.
"Obviously the goal is the Super Bowl, so that's the first step right there is making the playoffs," quarterback Jordan Love said. "This was a big-time game to clinch that spot, and I'm proud of the way we came out here and handled business. So it's big time."
The Saints (5-10) were badly undermanned in this game and never really in it, but it was as close to a full four-quarter, three-phase performance as the Packers (11-4) have put together this season, which LaFleur sees as a good sign with the playoffs looming.
The head coach also appreciated the opportunity to give outgoing President/CEO Mark Murphy a game ball after Murphy was honored at halftime for his long, successful tenure.
"Really cool to be able to give Mark Murphy a game ball on his night," LaFleur said. "He's first class all the way and obviously I'm forever grateful to him."
- The offense was rolling early again.
One week after scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions in the road win at Seattle, the Packers scored TDs on their first three possessions against a Saints defense that hadn't allowed more than 21 points in any of their last five games.
Once again Josh Jacobs set the tone, spearheading a collective 188-yard ground attack that saw him and fellow running backs Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks all score rushing TDs by game's end. Jacobs came out breaking tackles and stiff-arming defenders on his way to 107 total yards (69 rushing, 38 receiving) and his team-leading 14th TD of the season, a record for a first-year Packers player.
"He's definitely a workhorse for us and he definitely brings that juice with the way he runs the ball," Love said of Jacobs, whose night was over after the offense's first drive of the second half. "Like I've said before, he can do it all. Make guys miss, run guys over, stiff arm guys, so I haven't seen anything he can't do yet."
Jacobs had his best stiff arm of the season on the opening drive, tossing aside Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu toward the end of a 20-yard run he took down to the 1.
Love (16-of-28, 182 yards, TD) kept the ball moving as well, converting a pair of fourth downs on the game's second drive, which covered 96 yards in 17 plays and consumed 8:55, all statistical season longs for Green Bay.
Love checked to a QB sneak on fourth-and-1 just across midfield on that drive, and four plays later hit tight end Tucker Kraft for 21 yards on fourth-and-2, with Jacobs running twice to cover the last 14 yards.
By the time Brooks finished the third drive with his TD, the Saints had two first downs and 21 yards of offense to the Packers' 21 points.
"We came out of the gates the way we needed to," LaFleur said.
- The defense kept making key plays to keep New Orleans off the board.
New Orleans was shorthanded with several offensive weapons missing, and rookie QB Spencer Rattler never got any rhythm established.
When the Saints drove inside the Green Bay 30-yard line in the second quarter, Keisean Nixon's blitz resulted in a strip-sack.
When the Saints got inside the Green Bay 35 just before halftime, Devonte Wyatt sacked Rattler for a 12-yard loss.
When Rattler converted a third-and-17 with a 20-yard jump pass late in the third quarter, Zayne Anderson intercepted him on the next play.
Anderson was making his first pro start in place of rookie safety Evan Williams, who missed the game due to a quadricep injury that popped up in Saturday's practice, and got his first career pick.
"What's really cool is we're getting contributions from a lot of different people," LaFleur said. "I think that's usually the mark of a good team. You've got to stay healthy and continue to build on what you've done, but I love the energy of our group.
"Our guys show up ready to work, willing to work, every day. We've got to continue to push one another to be at our best, because this is the time when you need to be playing your best ball."
- The Packers are as close as they've been to their peak all season.
Some scoring opportunities got away after the fast start but the offense made no momentum-changing mistakes and hit the 30-point mark for the fifth straight game. Green Bay didn't turn the ball over and Love wasn't sacked, keeping his total at one sack over the last four games.
Meanwhile the shutout was the Packers' second under LaFleur (also 2021 vs. Seahawks) and the first in the NFL this year. New Orleans finished with just 196 total yards and had only four plays that gained more than 13.
"Anytime you can hold anybody to zero points in the National Football League is pretty awesome," Love said. "So, like the offense, I think they're trending in the right direction and making a lot of big-time plays, and we're going to need a lot more of that next week."
Next up is a big trip to Minnesota to face the 13-2 Vikings.
- The only bad news on the night was in the health department.
Receiver Christian Watson left the game with a knee injury, tried to return and then exited for good. LaFleur admitted "there's some concern there" with tests pending Tuesday.
Williams also could be out the rest of the regular season, as LaFleur said "hopefully" he'll be back from the quad injury in time for the playoffs.
