The 10-4 Packers host the 5-9 Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 16. Green Bay is coming off a 30-13 road win in Seattle, while New Orleans suffered a 20-19 home loss to the Commanders.
The Packers can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Monday night. However, they might secure it earlier. If the Falcons lose or tie against the Giants, combined with a Seahawks and Rams loss or tie, Green Bay will clinch a playoff spot before kickoff.
With Minnesota’s Monday night win, the Packers can’t no longer win the division. However, they’re still in the race for the fifth seed. They can claim it by winning out and if Minnesota loses to Seattle and Detroit. There’s also a scenario where Green Bay finishes 13-4 but ends up as the sixth seed.
Regardless of other results, the Packers must handle their own business. That starts Monday night against the New Orleans Saints.
Matt LaFleur often stresses the ‘one game at a time’ mentality, and he’s right. The last time the Saints visited Lambeau, their defense kept the Packers’ offense in check for three quarters.
Green Bay’s offense was much different back then. That game marked Jordan Love’s first home start, with the unit still developing chemistry. Fast forward 15 months, and the Packers now rank top ten in EPA/play, EPA/pass, and EPA/rush.
Green Bay is currently favored by 13.5 points over New Orleans. The Saints will likely start Spencer Rattler, and Chris Olave will likely miss the game. New Orleans has a bottom-five defense in EPA/rush and must stop Josh Jacobs on a cold night in Lambeau.
Five of the Saints’ last six games were decided by one score. They were a successful two-point conversion away from upsetting the Washington Commanders, who are currently a playoff team. Despite injuries to their starting quarterback and top receiver, and with an interim head coach leading the way, the Saints continue to fight. Believing Monday night will be a walk in the park sets the stage for an upset, and the Packers will certainly do everything in their power to avoid that mindset.
The Packers have won three of their last five matchups with the Saints, and Monday Night Football promises another exciting game. Hopefully, the Green & Gold will come out on top and clinch a playoff berth. With a huge divisional matchup against the Vikings ahead, it would be great to head to Minneapolis with a playoff ticket in hand.
