With two days before Christmas, the Lambeau Field faithful was given the gift of a Green Bay Packers shut out victory over the New Orleans Saints 34-0. Three different running backs scored a touchdown as RB Josh Jacobs finished with 69 YDS on 13 carries and his sixth straight game with a TD. QB Jordan Love went 16/28 throwing for 182 YDS and a TD while completing to 10 different receivers. The offensive line once again did not give up a sack and LB Edgerrin Cooper had another impactful game leading the team with 10 tackles. In case you missed it, here is the recap: 

Packers received to start the game with a 38-yard kick off return by CB Keisean Nixon on the cold frigid night. After an encroachment penalty setting up third-and-1, RB Jacobs was able to pick up the first down on a quick pitch run  to the outside for a 3-yard gain. The Packers were able to gain 11 yards on a screen QB Love pass to RB Jacobs. RB Jacobs with a nasty stiff arm on NO S Tyrann Mathieu picking up 20 yards. On third-and-goal, QB Love found a wide open WR Dontayvion Wicks for the 2-yard touchdown completion. K McManus made the extra point GB 7 NO 0 with 8:41 left in the first quarter. 

With QB Spencer Rattler making his fourth career start, the Saints were able to move into Packers territory with a 12-yard screen pass to TE Foster Moreau. On third-and-7, QB Rattler overthrew an incomplete pass followed by a false start as NO was about to go for it resulting in a punt. GB started at their own 5 with 5:38 left in the first quarter. On third-and-1, TE Tucker Kraft took the snap bulldozing his way for the first down (Kraft is now 3/3 on 1-yard third down attempts this season). QB Love completed a precise slant pass to WR Romeo Doubs for a 15-yard gain. The final play of the first quarter was a 1-yard gain by RB Emmanuel Wilson setting up fourth-and-1 at the NO 45-yard line.

Second Quarter: Packers 7 Saints 0
 

Going for it on fourth down QB Love was able to pick up the clutch first down on a 2-yard QB sneak. After a 5-yard completion to WR Doubs setting up fourth-and-2, QB Love was able to complete a short pass to TE Kraft who ran 21-yards before getting tackled at the NO 14. RB Jacobs ran 12 yards then powered his way into the end zone for the 2-yard touchdown. K McManus made the extra point GB 14 NO 0 with 11:43 left in the second quarter. That Packers drive took 17 plays 96 yards lasting 8:55.

Former defensive player of the week LB Cooper had a big tackle on first down for the 3-yard loss. After another NO false start penalty setting up third-and-16, CB Eric Stolkes tackled RB Jordan Mims on a 6-yard completion forcing the three and out punt. Starting at their own 33, GB was able to push downfield with a 30-yard TE Kraft catch and run. WR Christian Watson got his second handoff of the drive and took it 14-yards before getting knocked out of bounds at the NO 6 setting up first-and-goal (Watson's leg was injured on the play, later ruled out). The Packers were able to score on a 1-yard run by RB Chris Brooks for his first career touchdown. K McManus made the extra point GB 21 NO 0 with 6:28 left in the second quarter.

The Saints started their third drive desperately needing to stop the bleeding. QB Rattler completed a 21-yard pass to TE Moreau to the GB 40. GB defense allowed a first down on third-and-10 to RB Kendre Miller for the 10-yard gain. On second-and-9, GB brought the outside blitz as CB Nixon caused a sack-fumble that was recovered by DE Rashan Gary for the first turnover of the game. The final play before the two warning was a third-and-4 long pass that was overthrown intended for WR Watson setting up fourth down. P Daniel Whelan made his first appearance punting 60 yards for the touchback. LB Brandon Cox was penalized for an abysmally questionable roughing the passer call giving NO the automatic first down. After the Saints mismanaged the clock leaving only 15 seconds left, DT Devonte Wyatt sacked QB Rattler for the 12-yard loss knocking them out of field goal range. The final play of the second half was a Hail Mary attempt that was caught out of bounds by S Xavier McKinney. GB 21 NO 0 at halftime. 

Third Quarter: Packers 21 Saints 0

The Saints received ball to start the second half as LB Cooper continued to make his presence felt with another hard tackle on former GB RB Jamaal Willimas. After a couple short completions, NO tried getting the GB defensive line to jump offsides on fourth-and-2 but the Pack stayed disciplined causing a delay of game penalty forcing a punt to the GB 16. The Packers utilized the run game with a 14-yard run gain by WR Bo Milton then first down gains by RB Jacobs and RB Brooks running into GB territory. GB offense hit a stagnant wall settling for a K McManus attempting a 55-yard field goal which went through the uprights bringing the score to GB 24 NO 0 with 7:03 left in the third quarter.

NO passed its way down the field with a 17-yard completion from QB Rattler to WR Juwan Johnson. LB Cox accounted for GB third sack of the night for a 7-yard loss. After a third-and-17 QB Rattler jumping in the pocket completion to WR Dante Pettis, he threw an interception to S Zayne Anderson who was making his first start of the season. S Anderson returned it 18 yards before getting tackled at the GB 20 for the Packers 28th takeaway of the season. RB Wilson started to rack up the carries with a hard hitting 17–yard then 7-yard gain. The final play of the third quarter was a 4-yard run by RB Wilson to the GB 48.

Fourth Quarter: Packers 24 Saints 0

GB offense remained out of sync as QB Love threw an incomplete pass to WR Wicks and a screen pass to RB Brooks that was contained for no gain GB resulting in another second half punt. CB Nixon had a beautiful open field tackle on a short pass to RB Mims setting up third-and-8. GB defense brought pressure from the outside as DE Lukas Van Ness rattled QB Rattler with an incomplete pass. NO P Matthew Hayball punted to the GB 16 with 11:50 left in the fourth quarter. 

On third-and-12, QB Love stayed poised in the pocket and launched a 37-yard completion to WR Reed. The Pack was able to push into NO territory with a runs by RB Brooks and a 12-yard completion to WR Wicks. QB Love threw an incompletion to WR Wicks on third down setting up a successful 46-yard field goal attempt by K McManus GB 27 NO 0 with 7:13 left in the fourth quarter. 

After an offensive holding penalty pushed NO back, the Saints found themselves going for it at their own 33 on fourth-and-7. The GB defense was able to push QB Rattler out of the pocket as he threw the ball down field for an incomplete pass broken up by S Anderson for the turnover on downs (15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct called on DT Colby Wooden after the play). GB brought in backup QB Malik Willis to run the clock down with the run game. On fourth-and-2, QB Willis threw a perfect pass hitting WR Reed stride-for-stride for the 34-yard gain. RB Wilson ran the ball on third-and-goal for the 1-yard touchdown and the Packer’s third RB touchdown of the night. K McManus made the extra point GB 34 NO 0 with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter. 

The Packers defense was able to stop the Saints on fourth-and-6 as the GB defensive line created duress forcing QB Rattler to throw an incompletion. QB Willis took a couple knees as the Packers clinched a playoff birth bringing their record to 11-4. Final score GB 34 NO 0. 

Green Bay will play at Minnesota Sunday for a division rival showdown starting at 3:25 PM CT. 

Five Fascinating Stats of the Game:

Total Yards: NO 196 GB 404
Rushing Yards: NO 67 GB 188
Red Zone Efficency: NO 0-0 GB 4-4
Time of Possession: NO 22:47 GB 37:13
Turnovers: NO 2 GB 0