Packers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout this season, 34-0 over Saints

NFL NOTES

APTOPIX_Saints_Packers_Football_40230--9e416_1087920929.jpg

Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) is pushed out of bounds near the goal line by Saints cornerback Will Harris (5) and linebacker Pete Werner (20) Monday in Green Bay. MATT LUDTKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Image

GREEN BAY, Wis. >> 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 on Monday night.

Green Bay (11-4) earned its fifth postseason appearance in six years and recorded 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.

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

Green Bay’s margin of victory was its largest since a 55-14 blowout of the Chicago Bears on Nov. 9, 2014.

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.

Jacobs ran for 69 yards and a 1-yard touchdown on 13 carries. He also caught four passes for 38 yards.

Jordan Love went 16 of 28 for 182 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown to Dontayvion Wicks. Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson also had 1-yard touchdown runs, and Brandon McManus kicked field goals from 55 and 46 yards.

Green Bay’s 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.

The Packers scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions.

Texans WR Dell out for season >> Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell will miss the remainder of the season after dislocating a knee and tearing an ACL in a loss to Kansas City on Saturday.

Coach DeMeco Ryans revealed the details of his injury Monday before announcing that Dell would have season-ending surgery for a second straight year. He fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos as a rookie last season and had surgery on it the following day.

Ryans didn’t have a date for Dell’s surgery for this injury, but said it would be soon.