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Packers appear playoff-ready after shutting out Saints
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) stiff arms New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

'MNF' takeaways: Packers appear playoff-ready in laugher vs. Saints

And you thought the College Football Playoff first-round games were bad?

The Saints did their best Tennessee impression on Monday, getting trounced on the road at Green Bay, 34-0.

Here are our takeaways from Monday's dud.

Packers appear playoff-ready

We won't get carried away over a blowout win against the hapless, injury-riddled Saints, but the Packers dominated like a playoff team should against one headed for a top-10 draft pick.

The Packers (11-4) outgained the Saints (5-10) 404-196 and won the time of possession 37:13-22:47. Green Bay plays the Vikings (13-2) in Week 17, which will be a much tougher test. But its confidence should be sky-high after its complete Monday night win.

Spencer Rattler flubs starting audition

If the end of the regular season is Rattler's audition for the 2025 starting role, the Saints should look elsewhere. The rookie quarterback was 15-of-30 for 153 yards, an interception and a fumble lost. 

In Rattler's four starts, the Saints have averaged 11.3 points and 284 yards. He's struggled more than any other rookie quarterback this season, which could make it more difficult for the Saints to say goodbye to Derek Carr despite his upcoming $30 million roster guarantee.

Saints need a reset...

However, if Rattler is as bad next season as he looked on Monday, he could help the Saints get the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. For a team with as many holes as any in football, the Saints need premium draft capital, potentially making starting Rattler worth it. 

In Monday's loss, the offensive line struggled, allowing a 52.6 pressure rate, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

The defense couldn't stop Green Bay, which ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries.

The Saints have spent the past few seasons chasing the ghost of their success under former head coach Sean Payton and retired quarterback Drew Brees, but their ugly Monday-nighter should finally put an end to that futile pursuit.

New Orleans needs a reset, and the sooner it starts, the quicker it can contend again.

...and a moratorium on primetime games

The Saints are joyless to watch. If the NFL really wants to use prime-time games to promote the best of its product, it needs to keep New Orleans in the 1 p.m. ET Sunday window for the foreseeable future. 

Per ESPN's Katherine Terrell, the 34-0 loss — the first shutout of the 2024 season — was the largest shutout on "MNF" since 2005.

The Saints appeared on three prime-time broadcasts this season and were outscored 93-23. No one should be subjected to watching that dreck. 

Until New Orleans proves itself on the field, NFL schedule-makers should not reward the franchise with any more prime-time games. 

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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