Green Bay Packers clinch playoff spot with 34-0 whitewash of injury-plagued Saints | NFL

With a dominant defense leading the way, the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff spot by producing their lopsided victory in a decade.

Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for the sixth straight game as the Packers recorded the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

“Obviously the goal is the Super Bowl,” said quarterback Jordan Love, who went 16 of 28 for 182 yards and a touchdown. “That’s the first step right here, getting in the playoffs. Obviously, this was a big game to earn that spot. I’m proud of the way we got out there and handled business.”

Green Bay (11-4) clinched its fifth postseason appearance in six years with its first shutout since beating Seattle 17-0 on Nov. 14, 2021. The Saints (5-10) were shutout for the first time since falling 13 -0 to San Francisco on November 27, 2022.

New Orleans played without injured quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara. Rookie Spencer Rattler started at quarterback and went 15 of 30 for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble.

“We dressed the 48 guys that we dressed,” Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi said. “We won’t make excuses. You know me well enough by now. I won’t make excuses about that. We didn’t perform well enough.”

Green Bay’s margin of victory was their largest since a 55-14 blowout of the Chicago Bears on Nov. 9, 2014.

“A shutout in the NFL is the hardest thing to do, and to do it in prime time is even harder,” Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon said. “To earn a playoff spot by doing that is a hell of a deal.”

The Packers have won nine of their last 11 games, with their only loss during that stretch coming to the NFC North rival Detroit Lions. They enter the playoffs as a wild card after being eliminated from the NFC North title game on Sunday.

Jacobs ran for 69 yards and a two-yard touchdown on 13 carries to lead Green Bay’s 188-yard rushing attack. He also caught four passes for 38 yards.

Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson had one-yard touchdown runs, Dontayvion Wicks had a two-yard TD catch and Brandon McManus kicked field goals of 55 and 46 yards.

Green Bay’s defense made it a miserable night for the Rattlers while missing four starters due to injuries: linebacker and leading tackler Quay Walker, cornerback Jaire Alexander and safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. Safety Zayne Anderson had an interception in his first career start.

“What’s really cool is we’re getting contributions from a lot of different people,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “I think that’s usually the hallmark of a good team.”

The Packers scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions.

Love found Wicks on third-and-goal to cap the game’s opening drive. Wicks’ touchdown was his fifth of the season and first since Oct. 20 against Houston.

Jacobs’ touchdown capped a 17-play, 96-yard drive that lasted 8:55. It was the Packers’ longest possession of the season in terms of plays and time. The Packers also had a 96-yard march in their 24-19 triumph over the Los Angeles Rams.

The drive included two fourth-down conversions. Love had a two-yard sneak on fourth-and-1 from the New Orleans 45 to open the second quarter. Love then threw a 14-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-2 from the 35.

Jacobs has rushed for a touchdown in six straight games, one shy of the longest streak in Packers history. Paul Hornung had a touchdown run in seven consecutive games in 1960.

Brooks’ first career touchdown made it 21-0 with 6:28 left in the second quarter. McManus kicked both of his field goals in the second half.

Wilson capped the scoring with 2:41 left on a drive designed by backup quarterback Malik Willis.

“We finally put together a complete game,” Jacobs said. “It’s something we’ve been chasing since the beginning of the season. It just feels like our ceiling just keeps going up.”