The Green Bay Packers will welcome the 5-9 New Orleans Saints to Lambeau Field for an NFC showdown on “Monday Night Football” in Week 16. The Packers need a win to clinch a playoff spot, while the Saints will almost certainly be eliminated from the postseason at some point in Week 16.
Can the Packers improve to 11-4 with a win over a fading Saints team that will likely be without Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara?
Here are five stats to know ahead of Monday night’s showdown at Lambeau Field:
Plus-451: The Saints defense has allowed the most yards after catch over expected in the NFL this season, per Next Gen Stats. And opponents are averaging 6.3 yards after the catch against the Saints in 2024. This is all a fancy way of saying the Saints are struggling to get receivers on the ground after catches this season. Turns out, the Packers have several dynamic playmakers with the ball in their hands. Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft and Josh Jacobs could do major damage on Monday night, especially if the Packers prioritize the short, quick passing game. Playing in the snow and cold won’t make tackling easier for the Saints.
14: Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler has only dropped back to pass 140 times this season, but he’s been sacked 14 times — a 10 percent sack rate. Avoiding sacks is a skill, and many young quarterbacks don’t have their internal clock adjusted to the right time or possess enough pocket awareness early on. It doesn’t help that Saints offensive tackles Trevor Penning and Taliese Fuaga have both allowed more than 30 pressures this season. Like facing Sam Howell to end last week in Seattle, the Packers’ pass-rush could feast if they take away Rattler’s first read and continually collapse the pocket.
18 and 68: Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor has missed 18 tackles and given up 68 completions in coverage, both the most among cornerbacks entering Week 16, per Pro Football Focus. He’s also committed six penalties and doesn’t have an interception. In last year’s matchup, Taylor broke up three passes but also gave up four catches for 81 yards — mostly to Jayden Reed. Don’t be surprised if the Packers make him a frequent target again on Monday night.
5 straight: Packers quarterback Jordan Love has five straight games with a passer rating of 100.0 or better, but he’s about to face a stingy passing defense. The Saints are giving up a passer rating of just 83.0 overall (sixth best) this season, and they’ve allowed only 14 passing touchdowns (third fewest). Throw in a pass rush that has 37 sacks and two rushers with 50 or more pressures (Chase Young, Carl Granderson), and the Packers passing game will be tested on Monday night.
21: Since Darren Rizzi took over for Dennis Allen, or a span of five games, the most points the Saints have allowed is just 21. The Packers, meanwhile, have scored 30 or more points in four straight games. The Saints didn’t face a gauntlet of offensive powerhouses over the last five, but holding the Rams to 21 points and the Commanders to 20 points are both jobs well done. The Saints are stingy on third down (37.3 percent conversions) and in the red zone (51.2 percent touchdowns).