The last time Green Bay held a team to zero points was in 2021 – a 17-0 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Monday night’s performance was a testament to a much-improved Packers defense, which entered Week 16 ranked ninth in yards allowed per game (321.8) and eighth in points allowed per game (20.3). documented.

Against an undermanned Saints team that had Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara sidelined due to injuries, the Packers held the Saints to 196 yards of offense, much of which they gained when the game was already in garbage time.

Still, what the Packers did against a Spencer Rattler-led unit was impressive, as evidenced by the fact that it was the first time in 240 games played this season.

“We always knew that, the defense is a lot different this year,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “They’ve had some great plays all year. Any time you can hold someone to zero points in the National Football League, that’s pretty awesome.”

The Packers stifled the Saints’ offense with a huge pass rush on Rattler, as eight different players generated multiple QB pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. Devonte Wyatt, Brenton Cox and Keisean Nixon each tallied a sack, while rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper chipped in with a team-high eight tackles. Zayne Anderson secured the only turnover of the game with an interception by Rattler, stopping the Saints’ best drive of the night.

Monday night’s dominant win also secured the Packers’ second consecutive playoff berth. At 11-4, the Packers are on the outside looking in for an NFC North title, while the Detroit Lions (13-2) and Minnesota Vikings (13-2) are headed for a Week 18 showdown for supremacy heading towards the division. But the Packers are still in play for the NFC’s top wild-card spot, which would be the most ideal matchup among away playoff teams this season Super Wild Card Round.

Without discounting Monday night’s seamless win, LaFleur is looking to improve its position next week with a tougher test against a division rival.

“We have a big test next week to hit the road in a short holiday week,” LaFleur said. “It’s never easy, especially going to Minnesota. It’s one of the more difficult places to play against a team that plays as well as anyone else in the National Football League. So we need to flip the script here real quick and move on to the Vikings.”