Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur continues his playoff streak, as the team clinched a postseason berth with a commanding 34-0 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. This marks the fifth playoff appearance in LaFleur’s six seasons, with the only exception being Aaron Rodgers’ final season in 2022, when the Packers fell short in the last game against the Detroit Lions.
With an 11-4 record, the Packers can secure another 13-win regular season—LaFleur’s fourth—if they win their final two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
Packers’ Standout Performances
The Saints, hindered by injuries to key players like Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara, struggled from the start. Green Bay capitalized with a 21-0 lead after scoring touchdowns on their first three drives—a feat they hadn’t achieved since 2020.
- Josh Jacobs’ Consistency: Jacobs extended his rushing touchdown streak to six games, tying for the second-longest in Packers history. He finished the game with 69 rushing yards, one touchdown, and 38 receiving yards.
- Takeaway Leaders: Keisean Nixon’s strip-sack and Zayne Anderson’s first career interception highlighted Green Bay’s defensive prowess. Their 28 takeaways this season rank third in the NFL.
- Depth in the Run Game: Nine Packers players had rushing attempts, including tight end Tucker Kraft and rookie Chris Brooks, who scored his first career touchdown. This level of participation hasn’t been seen since 1953.
Saints Struggle Amid Elimination
The Saints (5-10) were eliminated from playoff contention before the game and delivered a lackluster performance. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi’s hopes for a permanent role took a hit as New Orleans failed to score in the first half for the second consecutive game—a first since 1997.
- Offensive Woes: With rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler starting, the Saints managed just 12.8 points per game in five contests without Derek Carr, compared to 24.5 with him. Rattler has been sacked 17 times in five games.
- Defensive Failures: Missed tackles, penalties, and explosive plays plagued the defense, allowing the Packers to dominate.
- Season Outlook: New Orleans has now endured double-digit losses in two of the past three seasons, a stark decline for a team that hadn’t lost 10 or more games since 2005 before 2022.
The Packers remain playoff-bound and poised for a strong finish, while the Saints face a challenging offseason to rebuild and regain competitiveness.