Packers rout Saints 34-0 to clinch NFL playoff berth

By AFP

December 25, 2024

Green Bay Packers safety Zayne Anderson breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Dante Pettis (right) at Lambeau Field. Mandatory. — Reuters/File

WASHINGTON: Jordan Love threw for 182 yards and a touchdown as the Green Bay Packers clinched their fifth NFL playoff berth in six seasons by beating the New Orleans Saints 34-0 on Monday.

The Packers improved to 11-4 and secured a wildcard playoff berth with the lopsided victory, joining Detroit, Minnesota and Philadelphia in the NFC post-season fight.

AFC playoff qualifiers with two weeks remaining in the campaign include defending champion Kansas City, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Houston and Baltimore.

Love drove the Packers 63 yards in 10 plays at the start, his 2-yard touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks putting Green Bay in front.

Josh Jacobs scored on a 2-yard run early in the second quarter and Chris Brooks added a 1-yard scoring run to give the Packers a 21-0 half-time lead.

Green Bay´s Brandon McManus added a 55-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter, and Emanuel Wilson had a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:41 remaining to pad the final victory margin.

The Saints suffered the first shutout loss in the NFL this season and fell to 5-10, already assured of missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.