Green Bay Packers

Packers vs. Saints Recap: Green Bay records 1st shutout of NFL season

Posted on by newssite

The Green Bay Packers were down four defensive starters versus the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, but the goals were clear: Win one more game and you punch in a ticket to the postseason.

How did the Packers respond to the circumstances? Their defense, despite being down so many players, allowed zero points to the Saints. While New Orleans was able to move the ball a little bit, throwing for 153 yards and rushing for another 67, something seemed to always trip the team up in enemy territory.

If it wasn’t rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler throwing an interception, it was giving up the ball on a sack-fumble or taking a sack that pushed the Saints out of field goal territory. Meanwhile, the Packers exploded out of the gate and scored touchdowns on all three of their first drives of the game.

Quarterback Malik Willis even played garbage time for the Packers, leading them to an Emanuel Wilson touchdown that made the game 34 to 0, the final score of the game. According to ESPN’s broadcast of the game, this is the first shutout of the entire 2024 NFL season.

Next up is the Minnesota Vikings. If the Packers beat Minnesota, there’s a good chance they’ll be the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs. If the Packers lose, though, they’ll need the Washington Commanders to drop an extra game to not be the seventh seed.

If you’d like to follow our drive-by-drive breakdown of the game, you can find it below.

First Quarter Recap

The Packers opened the game with a triple-option play where quarterback Jordan Love pitched the ball to receiver Jayden Reed out of the backfield. The biggest play of the drive, though, came when running back Josh Jacobs not only ran for a first down but also threw safety Tyrann Mathieu to the ground with a stiff arm that almost went for six.

After the Packers failed to get the ball into the end zone on a goal line inside pitch to Dontayvion Wicks that looked like it was straight from the Kansas City Chiefs’ playbook, Love found Wicks on the very next play for a score. This is just Wicks’ second touchdown since September 29th, when he recorded two receiving touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings. Packers 7, Saints 0

The Saints offense drove the ball down the field for a while, with the help of a big gain on a tight end screen, but stalled out once they crossed midfield. New Orleans was initially going to go for a 4th and 7 from the 40-yard line, but a false start penalty pushed them back an extra five yards and forced a punt, which the Packers fair caught inside the 10.

Second Quarter Recap

Yes, the Saints got all of one drive in the first quarter. Green Bay was able to move the ball into enemy territory, after starting backed up into their own end zone, with the help of a Tucker Kraft sneak. On the season, the Packers have now been able to convert all three of their sneak attempts by the tight end.

Love then kept the drive alive with a fourth and one quarterback sneak himself, around the 45-yard line. This was the first play of the second half. Another fourth down was converted when Love found Kraft on a play-action pass into the flat, bringing Green Bay’s offense into the red zone.

From there, Jacobs continued his dominant performance. He not only steamrolled the Saints to the two-yard line but also punched the ball in for his sixth straight game with a rushing touchdown. 17 plays. 96 yards. Nearly nine minutes off the clock. Packers 14, Saints 0

On the Saints’ second drive of the game, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper made a tackle for a loss on first down, which was followed by a false start from New Orleans. This set up a third down and 16. Punt.

In four plays, the Packers were able to get inside the 10-yard line off of two Christian Watson carries that went for a total of 23 yards and a Love-to-Kraft throw and catch of 30 yards. Unfortunately, that second carry led to Watson coming up gimpy and taking a trip to the blue medical tent on the sideline, though, he did walk off the field under his own power. Backup running back Chris Brooks punched the ball in from the one to put Green Bay up three touchdowns. Packers 21, Saints 0

The Saints’ third drive started to a fast start when tight end Foster Moreau, who caught a big screen earlier, was found for 21 yards down the middle of the field. The Packers then gave up an inexplicable first down on a third and 10 run by Kendre Miller before a slot cornerback Keisean Nixon blitzed Rattler and got home. The result? A comical sack-fumble.

Thankfully, Watson returned to the field for the next drive. Green Bay went three and out, but not before Love attempted to chuck a couple of downfield passes with time running out in the half. Two-minute warning. Punt.

The Saints’ two-minute drill looked promising until a Devonte Wyatt sack with 15 seconds left in the half took New Orleans out of the field goal range. The half ended with a Hail Mary attempt that was nearly picked off by safety Xavier McKinney short of the goal line.

Third Quarter Recap

The Saints punted again to start the second half, but not after motioning into four separate goofy punt formations and taking a delay of game. This is beyond over.

the Packers’ first drive of the half stalled out after they crossed midfield, but kicker Brandon McManus made one of his more impressive field goals of the 2024 season when he hit a 55-yarder in Lambeau’s night winds. Packers 24, Saints 0

If you can believe it, Zayne Anderson — the replacement starter for Evan Williams and Javon Bullard — recorded an interception on the Saints’ second drive of the half. For whatever reason, things just seem to be going to hell for New Orleans every time they cross midfield. They can move the ball in the open field, but as soon as things start to condense a little bit it goes off the rails for them.

Fourth Quarter Recap

Love got lucky on the opening pass of the Packers’ next drive, as the ball was tipped in the air and nearly brought in by Saints defensive lineman Khalen Saunders, who bobbled the ball a few times before dropping it. Bullet dodged.

Green Bay ultimately took a delay of game on a fourth and five after getting across midfield. A Lukas Van Ness penalty for tripping cost the Packers 15 more yards after the initial punt attempt. The difference between the Daniel Whelan punts ended up being close to 30 yards after the penalty.

The Saints did nothing with the ball.

Green Bay kicked a field goal. Packers 27, Saints 0

The Saints did nothing with the ball again.

The Packers put in their second-team offense and Malik Willis led a scoring drive. Thorough ass-kicking. Packers 34, Saints 0

The Saints did nothing with the ball again.

The Packers kneeled out the game.

 

 

 

 

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