{"id":7812,"date":"2024-12-25T01:26:05","date_gmt":"2024-12-25T01:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812"},"modified":"2024-12-25T01:26:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-25T01:26:05","slug":"breaking-pa%c6%88kers-clinch-playoff-berth-with-1st-shutout-in-nfl-this-season-34-0-over-saints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth while producing the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
\"Green<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) is pushed out of bounds near the goal line by New Orleans Saints cornerback Will Harris (5) and linebacker Pete Werner (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Matt Ludtke)<\/span>(AP)<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) \u2014 With a dominant defense leading the way, the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth by producing their most lopsided win in a decade.<\/p>\n

Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Packers recorded the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints on Monday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously the goal is Super Bowl,\u201d said quarterback Jordan Love, who went 16 of 28 for 182 yards and a touchdown. \u201cThat\u2019s the first step right here, to make the playoffs. Obviously this was a big-time game, to clinch that spot. I\u2019m proud of the way we came out there and handled business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green Bay (11-4) secured its fifth postseason appearance in six years with its first shutout since beating Seattle 17-0 on Nov. 14, 2021. The Saints (5-10) were blanked for the first time since falling 13-0 to San Francisco on Nov. 27, 2022.<\/p>\n

New Orleans played without injured quarterback Derek Carr and running back Alvin Kamara. Rookie Spencer Rattler started at quarterback and went 15 of 30 for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe dressed the 48 guys that we dressed,\u201d Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi said. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to make excuses. You guys know me well enough by now. I\u2019m not going to make excuses about that. We didn\u2019t perform well enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green Bay\u2019s margin of victory was its largest since a 55-14 blowout of the Chicago Bears on Nov. 9, 2014.<\/p>\n

\u201cA shutout in the NFL is the hardest thing to do, and to do it on prime time is even harder,\u201d Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon said. \u201cTo clinch a playoff berth doing that is a hell of a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Packers have won nine of their last 11 games, with their only losses during that stretch coming to the NFC North rival Detroit Lions. They will enter the playoffs as a wild card after being eliminated from NFC North title contention Sunday.<\/p>\n

Jacobs ran for 69 yards and a 2-yard touchdown on 13 carries to lead Green Bay\u2019s 188-yard rushing attack. He also caught four passes for 38 yards.<\/p>\n

Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson had 1-yard touchdown runs, Dontayvion Wicks had a 2-yard TD catch, and Brandon McManus kicked field goals from 55 and 46 yards.<\/p>\n

Green Bay\u2019s defense made it a miserable night for Rattler while missing four starters because of injuries: linebacker and leading tackler Quay Walker, cornerback Jaire Alexander and safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard. Safety Zayne Anderson had an interception in his first career start.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s really cool is we\u2019re getting contributions from a lot of different people,\u201d Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. \u201cI think that\u2019s usually the mark of a good team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Packers scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions.<\/p>\n

Love found Wicks on third-and-goal to cap the game\u2019s opening drive. Wicks\u2019 touchdown was his fifth of the season and first since Oct. 20 against Houston.<\/p>\n

Jacobs’ touchdown capped a 17-play, 96-yard drive that lasted 8:55. It was the Packers’ longest possession of the season in terms of plays and time. The Packers also had a 96-yard march in their 24-19 triumph over the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n

The drive included two fourth-down conversions. Love had a 2-yard sneak on fourth-and-1 from the New Orleans 45 to open the second quarter. Love then threw a 14-yard completion to Tucker Kraft on fourth-and-2 from the 35.<\/p>\n

Jacobs has rushed for a touchdown in six straight games, putting him one away from the longest such streak in Packers history. Paul Hornung had a touchdown run in seven consecutive games in 1960.<\/p>\n

Brooks’ first career touchdown made it 21-0 with 6:28 left in the second quarter. McManus kicked both of his field goals in the second half.<\/p>\n

Wilson capped the scoring with 2:41 left on a drive engineered by backup quarterback Malik Willis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe finally put a complete game together,\u201d Jacobs said. \u201cThat\u2019s something that we\u2019ve been hunting since the beginning of the season. It just feels like our ceiling just keeps going up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Injuries<\/h2>\n

Saints C Erik McCoy left with an elbow injury. Saints LG Lucas Patrick got hurt in the closing minutes. Packers WR Christian Watson hurt a knee.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s some concern there, certainly,\u201d LaFleur said of Watson\u2019s injury. \u201cWe\u2019re going to get some more testing done (Tuesday).\u201d<\/p>\n

Up next<\/h2>\n

Saints: Host Las Vegas on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Packers: Visit Minnesota on Sunday.——————-<\/p>\n

\"Packers
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) carries against New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Morry Gash)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Packers
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) carries on a first down reception against New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Matt Ludtke)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Packers
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (25) is stopped by Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson and safety Zayne Anderson, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Morry Gash)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Packers
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) is knocked out of bounds by New Orleans Saints cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Mike Roemer)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Packers
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) carries against New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Mike Roemer)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Packers
Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (52) celebrates a fumble recovery during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis.(AP Photo\/Morry Gash)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Packers
Green Bay Packers defensive end Kingsley Enagbare (55) and defensive tackle Colby Wooden (96) celebrate a fumble recovery during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Mike Roemer)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Packers
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (95) celebrates his sack with defensive end Rashan Gary (52) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Morry Gash)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Packers
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. (81) drops the ball as he is hit by Green Bay Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo\/Matt Ludtke)(AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth while producing the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75,373,314,138],"class_list":["post-7812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-green-bay-packers","tag-football","tag-nfl-football","tag-nfl-playoffs","tag-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints - Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth while producing the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-12-25T01:26:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fh5tfg-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrKen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrKen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812\",\"name\":\"BREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints - Breaking News\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fh5tfg-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-25T01:26:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-25T01:26:05+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b503ba061d907097809c4aa8a240af15\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fh5tfg-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fh5tfg-1.png\",\"width\":900,\"height\":900},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"BREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"Breaking News\",\"description\":\"Explore top US sports stories, and live updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b503ba061d907097809c4aa8a240af15\",\"name\":\"MrKen\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab07af1f129ef9c67f3a58e6273eac4d8eb51a1cb066ea995eb6d5f03eceb61b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab07af1f129ef9c67f3a58e6273eac4d8eb51a1cb066ea995eb6d5f03eceb61b?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MrKen\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?author=2\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"BREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints - Breaking News","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"BREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints - Breaking News","og_description":"Josh Jacobs gained 107 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown for a sixth straight game as the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff berth while producing the first shutout of the NFL season, 34-0 over the hapless New Orleans Saints","og_url":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812","og_site_name":"Breaking News","article_published_time":"2024-12-25T01:26:05+00:00","og_image":[{"width":900,"height":900,"url":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fh5tfg-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"MrKen","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MrKen","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812","url":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812","name":"BREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints - Breaking News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fh5tfg-1.png","datePublished":"2024-12-25T01:26:05+00:00","dateModified":"2024-12-25T01:26:05+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b503ba061d907097809c4aa8a240af15"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fh5tfg-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fh5tfg-1.png","width":900,"height":900},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=7812#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"BREAKING: Pa\u0188kers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over Saints"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/","name":"Breaking News","description":"Explore top US sports stories, and live updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b503ba061d907097809c4aa8a240af15","name":"MrKen","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab07af1f129ef9c67f3a58e6273eac4d8eb51a1cb066ea995eb6d5f03eceb61b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab07af1f129ef9c67f3a58e6273eac4d8eb51a1cb066ea995eb6d5f03eceb61b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MrKen"},"url":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?author=2"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7812"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7814,"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812\/revisions\/7814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}