Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for the sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth with a 34-0 win over the hapless New Orleans Saints on Monday night, his first shutout of the NFL season.
Green Bay (11-4) made its fifth postseason appearance in six years and posted its first shutout since beating Seattle 17-0 on Nov. 14, 2021. The Saints (5-10) were shut out for the first time since falling to 13-10. 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 and went 15-of-30 for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble.
Green Bay’s winning percentage is its largest since a 55-14 rout of the Chicago Bears on November 9, 2014.
The Packers have won nine of their last 11 games, with their only loss during that span coming to the NFC North rival Detroit Lions. They will advance to the playoffs as a wild card after being eliminated from NFC North title contention on Sunday.
Jacobs ran for 69 yards and a 2-yard touchdown on 13 carries. He also caught four passes for 38 yards.
Jordan Love went 16-of-28 for 182 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown to Dontayvion Wicks. Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson also scored 1-yard touchdowns, and Brandon McManus hit field goals from 55 and 46 yards.
Green Bay’s defense had a miserable night for Rattler, 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 was intercepted in his first career start.
The Packers scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions.
Love found Wicks for a 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 minutes, 55 seconds. It was the Packers’ longest possession of the season in terms of plays and time. The Packers also had a 96-yard march in a 24-19 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
The drive included two fourth-down conversions. Love snuck in for 2 yards on fourth-and-1 from the New Orleans 45 to start the second quarter. Love then completed a 21-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-2 at the 35.
Jacobs has failed to score a touchdown in six straight games, tying the longest touchdown streak in Packers history. Paul Hornung scored a touchdown in seven straight games in 1960.
Brooks’ first touchdown came with 6:28 left in the second quarter to make it 21-0. McManus kicked both field goals in the second half.
Wilson scored with 2:41 left on a drive engineered by backup quarterback Malik Willis.
injury
Saints C Eric McCoy left with elbow injury. Saints LG Lucas Patrick suffered a last-minute injury. Packers WR Christian Watson injured his knee.
next
Saints: Host Las Vegas on Sunday.
Packers: Visit Minnesota on Sunday.
Associated Press report.
(Want great stories delivered straight to your inbox? Create or log in to a FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive personalized newsletters every day..)
Get more information from the National Football League Follow your favorites to stay informed about games, news, and more.
