In a season where parity has reigned supreme across the NFL, the Green Bay Packers have emerged as one of the few constants. Matt LaFleur’s squad made that abundantly clear on Monday night, manhandling the shorthanded New Orleans Saints en route to a 34-0 shutout victory that officially punched Green Bay’s ticket to the postseason for the fifth time in LaFleur’s six seasons at the helm.
Packers Pounce on Depleted Saints Early and Often
From the opening whistle, it was evident that the Packers had no intention of leaving any doubt about the outcome of this one. Green Bay came out firing on all cylinders, scoring touchdowns on each of their first three drives to race out to a commanding 21-0 advantage.
The Saints, who were starting rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler and playing without several other key offensive weapons including star running back Alvin Kamara, simply had no answers for the Packers’ swarming defense and efficient offense. New Orleans failed to advance the ball into the red zone for the entire contest as Green Bay recorded its first shutout since blanking the Seattle Seahawks in 2007.
Jacobs Keeps Rolling as Focal Point of Packers Attack
While the defense did its part in suffocating the Saints, the story of the night for Green Bay was once again the stellar play of running back Josh Jacobs. The bruising back continued his torrid stretch, scoring a rushing touchdown for the sixth consecutive game to tie the second-longest such streak in franchise history.
At this point, it’s gone beyond a trend. Josh scoring a rushing touchdown is now an expectation.
– Matt LaFleur on Josh Jacobs’ dominant play
Jacobs ended his evening with 69 rushing yards and the score on 13 carries to go along with 38 receiving yards on 4 catches. The versatile back has now found the end zone on the ground in 9 of his last 10 games, emerging as the heartbeat of LaFleur’s offense.
Opportunistic Defense Continues to Create Chaos
Not to be outdone, the Packers defense made life miserable for Rattler and the Saints all night long. Green Bay forced a pair of turnovers, including a strip sack by rookie cornerback Keisean Nixon that set up a short field and led to Jacobs’ touchdown scamper.
The two takeaways give the Packers 28 for the season, tying them for the third-most in the NFL. It’s a far cry from last year’s unit that managed just 18 takeaways over the entire campaign.
Packers Embracing “Next Man Up” Mentality
While Jacobs and the defense shined brightest under the Monday night lights, LaFleur had to be encouraged by the total team effort on display. The Packers had nine different players record a rushing attempt, including a third-down conversion from rookie tight end Tucker Kraft on a quarterback sneak and the first career touchdown run from reserve back Chris Brooks.
That sort of involvement from up and down the roster exemplifies the culture and identity LaFleur has built in his six seasons with the Packers. While some may have questioned how Green Bay would fare in the wake of franchise icon Aaron Rodgers’ departure, the players have clearly bought into LaFleur’s vision.
No Time to Celebrate for Determined Packers
It would be easy for the Packers to take a moment to bask in the glory of their dominant performance and forthcoming playoff appearance. But don’t expect LaFleur to let his team get complacent.
With dates against the division rival Vikings and Bears still on the docket, Green Bay has its sights set on securing the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. A 13-win campaign is well within reach for a Packers squad that appears to be peaking at the right time.
While history has shown that a playoff spot is far from a given in today’s NFL landscape, you’ll have to forgive Packers fans for already looking ahead to the postseason. Based on the way LaFleur’s team imposed its will on Monday night against the Saints, this is a roster that has all the makings of a special group capable of a deep run into January, and perhaps beyond.
