The Green Bay Packers are 11-4 and playoff bound are dominating the New Orleans Saints in a 34-0 primetime win on Monday night at Lambeau Field.
Matt LaFleur’s team scored on three straight possessions to create a 21-0 first half lead and Jeff Hafley’s defense did the rest, producing the NFL’s first shutout of the 2024 season with two takeaways and two fourth down stops.
A huge betting favorite, the Packers did what was expected: Dominated a shorthanded opponent from start to finish.
Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly coming out of the Packers’ win over the Saints:
The Good
The start: The Packers produced touchdown drives of 63 yards, 96 yards and 67 yards to open the game. Josh Jacobs was dominant, Jordan Love created explosive plays and the Packers offense consistently converted on third or fourth down and in the red zone. This was the Packers at their very best. For the second straight week, the Packers scored on three or more straight possessions to open a game and opened up a three-score lead.
The defense: Jeff Hafley’s group didn’t allow a point or even a trip into the red zone against nine Saints possessions, creating the first shutout of the 2024 season and the first from the Packers since 2021. And while the Saints were shorthanded on offense, the Packers were missing four preferred starters. New Orleans finished with 196 total yards and only 67 rushing yards.
Another playoff berth: The Packers will be in the postseason for the second straight year under Jordan Love and for the fifth time in six years under Matt LaFleur. Is this the year that the Super Bowl drought comes to an end in Titletown? The Packers are 11-4 overall but will have to do it the hard way as a wildcard team in the loaded NFC. This looks like a well-balanced football team that can win in multiple ways and is starting to play its best football late in the season.
The Bad
Love’s start to second half: The Packers passing game cooled off in a big way to start the second half. Love completed just two of his first seven passes for six total yards before hitting Jayden Reed for a 37-yard gain with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Despite a strong start, Love finished 16 of 28 passing for 182 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t have a turnover, but the Saints dropped a pick on a batted ball. Love’s passer rating was just 88.1, snapping a five-game streak at 100.0 or better.
The Ugly
Christian Watson’s injury: Watson injured his knee at the end of a run in the first half, and he had to exit the game after briefly returning and trying to play through the issue. Coach Matt LaFleur admitted there is concern over the severity of the injury but more testing is required on Tuesday. Watson rushed twice for 23 yards and was open several times on Monday night. Losing him before the postseason would be a big blow to an offense that has caught fire with Watson producing explosive plays since the bye.
