5 takeaways from the Packers’ shutout win over the Saints

GREEN BAY – The Packers clinched their spot in the NFC playoffs with a dominating 34-0 win over the Saints on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field.

Here are five takeaways from the shutout:

1. That’s now five playoff berths in six seasons under head coach Matt LaFleur.

It’s not like there was a huge party, because getting to the playoffs is only one goal, not the most important. 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 to make the playoffs,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “This was a big fight to win that spot and I’m proud of the way we came out here and handled business. So it’s about 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 that as a good sign with the playoffs coming up.

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 is first class all the way and of course I am eternally grateful to him.”

2. The offense got rolling again early.

A 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 its last five games.

Once again, Josh Jacobs set the tone, spearheading a collective 188-yard rushing attack that saw him and fellow running backs Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks all score rushing TDs late in the game. Jacobs came out breaking tackles and stiff-arming defenders en route 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 a season-best stiff arm on the opening drive, throwing Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu aside toward the end of a 20-yard run he took down to the 1.

Love (16-of-28, 182 yards, TD) also kept the ball moving and converted a pair of fourth downs on the game’s second drive, which covered 96 yards in 17 plays and consumed 8:55, the season-long stat year Green Bay .

Love checked for a QB sneak on fourth-and-1 just over 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 final 14 yards.

By the time Brooks capped 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 were supposed to,” LaFleur said.