Packers defense produces first shutout of 2024 season in Week 16 win over Saints

On By Littum

The last time Green Bay held a team to zero points was in 2021 – a 17-0 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Monday night’s performance was a testament to a much-improved Packers defense that entered Week 16 ranked ninth in yards allowed per carry. game (321.8) and eighth in points per game battle (20.3).

Against an undermanned Saints team with Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara out with injuries, the Packers held the Saints to 196 yards of offense, a good portion of which came with the game already in hand in garbage time.

Still, as evidenced by the fact that it was the first time in 240 games this season, what the Packers did against a Spencer Rattler-led unit was impressive.

“We’ve known all along, the defense is a lot different this year,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “They’ve made some big plays all year long. Anytime you can hold somebody to zero points in the National Football League, it’s pretty amazing.”

The Packers stifled the Saints offense with a huge pass rush on the Rattler as eight different players generated multiple QB pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. Devonte Wyatt, Brenton Cox and Keisean Nixon each had a sack, while rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper cleaned up with a team-high eight tackles. Zayne Anderson secured the only turnover of the game with an interception of Rattler to stop the Saints’ best drive of the night.

Monday night’s dominant victory also secured the Packers a second straight trip to the playoffs. Sitting at 11-4, the Packers are on the outside looking in on an NFC North title with the Detroit Lions (13-2) and Minnesota Vikings (13-2) heading into a Week 18 showdown for division supremacy. But the Packers are still in contention for the NFC’s top wild-card spot, which would provide the most ideal matchup among road playoff teams in Super Wild Card round.

Not ruling out Monday night’s smooth win, LaFleur looks to improve their standing next week with a tougher test against a division rival.

“We got a big test next week to go on the road for a short week with a vacation,” LaFleur said. “It’s never easy, especially going into Minnesota. It’s one of the tougher places to play against a team that plays as well as anybody in the National Football League. So we had to really flip the script here quickly and get on to the Vikings.”