GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — In an impressive display, the Green Bay Packers secured a playoff spot with their largest victory margin in ten years. By showcasing a powerful defense, they achieved a remarkable shutout against the struggling New Orleans Saints, winning 34-0 on Monday night.
Quarterback Jordan Love, who completed 16 out of 28 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown, expressed his aspirations, stating, “Obviously the goal is Super Bowl. This is the first step, making it to the playoffs. Clinching spot tonight was significant, and I’m proud of how we managed our game.”
Josh Jacobs made a notable contribution with 107 total yards and scored a touchdown, extending his streak to six consecutive games. Jacobs rushed for 69 yards, leading Green Bay’s 188-yard rushing effort.
The Packers (11-4) celebrated their fifth postseason entry in six years, marking their first shutout since defeating Seattle 17-0 on November 14, 2021. Meanwhile, the Saints (5-10) faced their first blanking since a 13-0 loss to San Francisco on November 27, 2022.
New Orleans struggled, playing without key players like injured quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler made his debut, completing 15 of 30 passes for 153 yards, with one interception and a fumble.
Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi commented on the performance by saying, “We don’t make excuses. The 48 guys we had on the roster didn’t perform well enough tonight.”
This win marked Green Bay’s largest margin of victory since a 55-14 victory over the Chicago Bears on November 9, 2014. Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon reflected on this achievement, stating, “A shutout in the NFL is extremely difficult, especially during prime time. Clinching a playoff berth while doing this is a remarkable feat.”
Despite the absence of four starters due to injuries, including leading tackler Quay Walker and cornerback Jaire Alexander, the Packers’ defense continuously pressured Rattler, making it a challenging night for him. Safety Zayne Anderson, making his first career start, even recorded an interception.
The Packers scored touchdowns on their opening three drives, setting a strong tone for the game. Love found Dontayvion Wicks on a third-and-goal play, which resulted in Wicks’ fifth touchdown of the season and his first since October 20 against Houston.
Jacobs’ touchdown came at the end of a lengthy 17-play, 96-yard drive that took 8:55, showcasing the team’s ability to maintain possession. Notably, this was the Packers’ longest drive both in terms of time and plays this season, with two crucial fourth-down conversions enabling the progression.
The scoring didn’t stop there, as Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson added rushing touchdowns, while McManus kicked field goals from 55 and 46 yards out. Wilson’s touchdown capped off the scoring with 2:41 left in the game, orchestrated by backup quarterback Malik Willis.
Injuries
For the Saints, center Erik McCoy left the game with an elbow injury and left guard Lucas Patrick suffered an injury in the final minutes. The Packers also faced challenges with wide receiver Christian Watson injuring his knee.
Upcoming Games
Next up, the Saints will host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, while the Packers will travel to face the Minnesota Vikings on the same day.
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