Packers shut out Saints to clinch playoff berth for fifth time in six years

GREEN BAY, Wis. — All Matt LaFleur does is make the playoffs. Well, more often than not anyway. The Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff spot with Monday’s 34-0 win over the New Orleans Saints, which suggests they will the postseason for the fifth time in LaFleur’s six seasons as their head coach.

The solely time the Packers have missed the playoffs below LaFleur was in Aaron Rodgers‘ closing season, 2022, after they went into the ultimate recreation of the season needing a win to qualify and misplaced to the Detroit Lions.

If the Packers (11-4) win their remaining two regular-season video games — on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday and residential towards the Chicago Bears in Week 18 — it will give LaFleur his fourth 13-win common season.

The Saints, with backup Spencer Rattler beginning at quarterback rather than the injured Derek Carr (hand) and with out a number of of their prime gamers, together with working again Alvin Kamara (groin), did not put up a lot resistance early on.

The Packers acquired out to an early 21-0 lead, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives for the primary time since Week 17 of the 2020 season on the Bears.

Promising development: At this level, it is gone past a development. Josh Jacobs scoring a dashing landing is now an expectation. Jacobs’ 2-yard scoring run within the second quarter made it his sixth straight recreation with a dashing landing. That ties the second-longest streak in Packers historical past behind solely Paul Hornung (seven in 1960). Jacobs completed with 13 carries for 69 yards and one landing, plus 4 catches for 38 yards.

Promising development II: When Keisean Nixon acquired dwelling on his cornerback blitz late within the second quarter, strip-sacked Rattler and defensive finish Rashan Gary recovered the fumble, it gave the Packers their twenty seventh takeaway of the season. Safety Zayne Anderson‘s third-quarter interception, the primary of his profession, moved them right into a tie for third within the NFL with the Bills and Texans with 28 takeaways. Last yr, they’d solely 18 takeaways all season.

Most stunning efficiency: We know the Packers wish to run the ball. They got here into the sport working by design on 48% of their performs this season, the second-highest fee within the NFL this season, based on ESPN Research. But this was uncommon even by the Packers requirements. Nine totally different gamers had at the least one dashing try, together with tight finish Tucker Kraft changing a sneak on third-and-1 and Chris Brooks together with his first profession dashing landing. The final time the Packers had 9 gamers with at the least one dashing try in a recreation was 1953. — Rob Demovsky

Next recreation: at Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)

The Saints had been formally eradicated from playoff rivalry previous to Monday night time’s recreation towards the Packers, they usually performed prefer it.

Interim coach Darren Rizzi wanted the staff to have a strong displaying in Green Bay to build his case for a eradicating the interim tag and turning into the top coach. But the Saints had been by no means really within the recreation, falling right into a 21-0 deficit and failing to maneuver the ball into the pink zone the complete recreation.

According to ESPN Research, it was the primary time the Saints had been shut out of the primary half of consecutive video games since 1997. They misplaced 20-19 to the Washington Commanders final week after failing to attain within the first two quarters.

The Saints have two video games left, however they confirmed they’ve plenty of work to do within the offseason to develop into a aggressive staff. The Saints have now misplaced double-digit video games for the second time in three seasons. Prior to 2022, they’d not misplaced 10 or extra since 2005.

Troubling development: The Saints, who began the rookie Rattler, are actually 0-5 when beginning backup quarterbacks this season and have averaged solely 12.8 factors per recreation in these 5 matchups, versus 24.5 factors per recreation below Carr. He is below contract for 2 extra seasons, and he’ll rely $51.4 million towards the wage cap in 2025 if the Saints select to maintain him with out restructuring his deal.

Most stunning efficiency: The offense was at all times going to have a problem with out their beginning quarterback, working again (Kamara), and massive play receiver (Chris Olave). But the protection merely failed to indicate up. The Packers had been capable of decide the unit aside at will, and the Saints did not assist themselves with missed tackles, penalties and explosive performs — the story of their season.

QB breakdown: The Saints went again to Rattler as their starter after Jake Haener was benched final week following one half and 39 web yards of offense. Rattler was capable of make some performs together with his toes and had a couple of good throws towards the Packers, however the offense definitely did not decide up the place it left off towards Washington final week. He has now been sacked 17 occasions in his 5 video games this season. — Katherine Terrell

Next recreation: vs. Raiders (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)