Packers vs. Saints: Monday Night Football Preview, Odds, and Prediction
To cap off an already thrilling Week 16, the Green Bay Packers welcome the New Orleans Saints to Lambeau Field for Monday Night Football.
Game Overview
The Packers have regained momentum, winning four of their last five games. While they're out of contention for the NFC North title, a strong finish could boost their wild-card prospects. Securing a 3-0 record to close the season would significantly enhance their playoff positioning.
The Saints, on the other hand, are enduring a tough season with little at stake. However, they have the opportunity to play spoiler down the stretch, potentially disrupting Green Bay's playoff hopes on Monday and Tampa Bay's plans in Week 18.
Game Details
- Date: Monday, Dec. 16
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
- TV Channel: ABC
- Streaming: Fubo (free trial available)
- Betting Odds: Packers -14, O/U 42.5 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Matchup Breakdown
When the Saints Have the Ball
New Orleans is severely undermanned, missing key players like Derek Carr, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Taysom Hill, and Ryan Ramczyk. Spencer Rattler takes the reins at quarterback, but his performance so far has been underwhelming: a 57.5% completion rate, 5.9 yards per attempt, and a 32% success rate in passing plays.
Kendre Miller will shoulder the rushing workload, but he faces an uphill battle behind a struggling offensive line against a Packers defense ranked fourth in forcing turnovers. Green Bay has allowed scores on only a small fraction of opposing drives, making it likely the Saints' offense will falter.
When the Packers Have the Ball
The Packers' offense is firing on all cylinders. Their rushing attack, led by Josh Jacobs, has been dominant, boasting a 50.6% success rate and accumulating 1,147 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Complemented by Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay's ground game is well-positioned to exploit a Saints defense that ranks second-worst in the NFL, surrendering 4.9 yards per carry.
Quarterback Jordan Love is hitting his stride, completing 68.7% of passes for 9.9 yards per attempt with eight touchdowns and just one interception in the last five games. The Packers' diverse receiving corps, featuring players like Tucker Kraft, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs, is thriving, ready to capitalize on a New Orleans secondary that has struggled all season.
Prediction
The Saints are simply too depleted to pose a serious threat to the Packers. Green Bay's only losses this year have come against NFC heavyweights like Detroit, Minnesota, and Philadelphia. New Orleans, mired in a tough season, is unlikely to break that trend.
Final Score Prediction: Packers 30, Saints 10
