The Green Bay Packers put on a dominating performance against the New Orleans Saints, triumphing with a decisive 34-0 victory on December 23. This win not only marked the Packers' eleventh victory of the season but also secured their place in the NFL playoffs for the 2024/2025 season.
The action started early at Lambeau Field, where the Packers quickly set the tone of the game. A remarkable run by running back Josh Jacobs down the right side showcased not only his agility but also the strength of his arm, pushing defender Tyrann Mathieu out of bounds. The game’s first touchdown followed shortly after, with quarterback Jordan Love connecting with Dontayvion Wicks on their opening drive.
From then on, it was all Packers. They executed three consecutive drives ending with touchdowns, leaving the Saints with no answers. One drive was especially remarkable, spanning 96 yards over 17 plays and taking nearly nine minutes off the clock, culminating with Jacobs crashing the ball across the goal line for his sixth straight game scoring. By this point, the game was seemingly over, leading 21-0. The Packers even made the decision to rest Jacobs, allowing Chris Brooks to take his first career touchdown with several short runs through the middle.
The Saints struggled to find any rhythm offensively. Quarterback Spencer Rattler managed only two completions during their opening drives, with both ending in punts. When they finally found themselves nearing field goal range, disaster struck; Rattler was sacked, leading to a fumble recovered by the Packers as the home team continued to hold the upper hand.
Adding insult to injury, kicker Brandon McManus increased the lead to 24-0 with a field goal in the third quarter. The Saints' best offensive moment came after Rattler found Dante Pettis with a significant completion on third-and-17, putting them close to scoring territory. Unfortunately for the New Orleans team, Rattler’s next throw was intercepted by Zayne Anderson, effectively snuffing any hopes of getting on the board.
Before the game concluded, McManus added another three points, and backup running back Emmanuel Wilson scored the third touchdown of the night for the Packers, becoming the third different running back to find the end zone. With this win, the Packers improved to 11-4, solidifying their playoff spot.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints fell to 5-10, ending their postseason aspirations. Their offensive woes continued as they failed all night to capitalize on opportunities presented to them.
Across the league, Week 16 featured several exciting matchups as teams jockeyed for playoff positions. For example, the Indianapolis Colts secured their playoff chances with their thrilling 38-30 victory over the Tennessee Titans, and running back Jonathan Taylor turned heads with his spectacular performance. Racking up 218 yards and three touchdowns, he was named the NFL MVP for the week.
Taylor, who had faced criticism after mishandling the ball right before entering the end zone just one week earlier, proved his mettle this time. “This is something I’ve never had happen before and it’s never going to happen again. Next time, I will cross the end zone and run with the ball straight to the tunnel,” he vowed after his fumble. True to his word, he started the game strong with a remarkable 65-yard touchdown run, zipping across the line and immediately making his way toward the tunnel, playing the redemption narrative perfectly.
He followed this up with another additional score, crossing for 70 yards, and capped off his monstrous day with yet another touchdown on a one-yard run. This performance reaffirmed his position as one of the league's top running backs and shifted momentum for the Colts.
Meanwhile, notable performances this week included De’Von Achane of the Dolphins with 190 yards and a touchdown, Derrick Henry's impressive showing for the Ravens, Chuba Hubbard’s game-winning TD, and standout plays from quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Sam Darnold. The final weeks of the NFL regular season promise to be exciting with playoff spots on the line.
Overall, as we head toward the playoffs, the successes and failures of this week indicate what teams will need to focus on as they navigate the competitive atmosphere of the NFL. With one final push needed from teams hoping to seal playoff positions, these upcoming games are not to be missed.
