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Monday Night Football in Week 16 brings us a prime-time showdown at Lambeau Field as the 5-9 New Orleans Saints take on the 10-4 Green Bay Packers. Kickoff is set for 8:15 PM ET on December 23, with both teams heading into this matchup with very different outlooks.
The Packers are eyeing the postseason, while the Saints aim to play spoiler amidst a difficult season.
The Saints’ 2024 season has been a rollercoaster, and their latest heartbreaking loss to the Washington Commanders was no exception. Trailing 17-0 late in the third quarter, New Orleans showed some resilience by mounting a comeback. However, instead of opting to tie the game, interim head coach Darren Rizzi gambled with a two-point conversion attempt that ultimately fell short in a 20-19 defeat.
Quarterback play has been a major storyline for New Orleans. With QB Derek Carr sidelined due to a concussion and hand injury, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener split snaps under center against Washington. While the Saints offense struggled to sustain drives, their aggressive attitude under Rizzi – who took over after they dismissed Dennis Allen – has injected some life into a team that once stood at 2-7.
Adding to their woes, star RB Alvin Kamara exited the Commanders game with a groin injury, putting his availability in doubt. Kamara has been the heart of the Saints’ offense, leading the team with 950 rushing yards and 543 receiving yards. Without him, the Saints’ already inconsistent offense will face an uphill climb against a surging Packers defense.
The Packers are back on track after dismantling the Seattle Seahawks 30-13 in Week 15’s Sunday Night Football matchup. Green Bay wasted no time, scoring on their opening possession and jumping out to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
QB Jordan Love delivered a stellar performance, completing 20 of 27 passes for 229 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. His precision and confidence under center have been critical for Green Bay’s offensive consistency. Supporting him was RB Josh Jacobs, who added 94 rushing yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, alongside 42 receiving yards on four catches.
Defensively, the Packers were dominant, racking up 7 sacks and 2 interceptions. DL Kingsley Enagbare led the charge with 2 sacks, as the Green Bay defense continually disrupted Seattle’s offensive rhythm. Over their past four games, the Packers have scored 30+ points per game while holding opponents to manageable scoring totals – an ideal recipe for success heading into the playoffs.
This game sets up as a nice-to-have-win for the Packers, who are in the hunt for playoff positioning and can clinch a spot with another victory. Green Bay has won four of its last five games and looks like a team hitting its stride at the right time. Head coach Matt LaFleur’s creative play-calling has unlocked Jordan Love, and with WR weapons like Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Christian Watson at his disposal, the Packers’ passing attack has been lethal.
For the Saints, it all comes down to who is available. If Carr and Kamara remain sidelined, it’s hard to see New Orleans keeping pace.
Even with their key players on the field, the Saints defense remains vulnerable, ranking in the bottom three for passing yards allowed and bottom ten for rushing defense. Recent opposing quarterbacks – like Jameis Winston and Jayden Daniels – have found plenty of success against them, and Love will likely look to exploit those same weaknesses.
That said, New Orleans has shown grit under Rizzi, and their defense has been playing marginally better lately. Expect the Saints to come out motivated, but Green Bay’s balanced offense and opportunistic defense should prove too much for them to handle.
Jordan Love has been efficient and explosive over the past month, and this matchup presents a prime opportunity for another strong outing. The Saints’ struggles in pass coverage set the stage for Love to attack downfield and spread the ball among his receivers. Look for him to surpass 250 passing yards as the Packers roll to a comfortable home victory.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.