For Week 16, Monday Night Football will feature the Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints game.
Looking at the NFL standings, these are clearly teams moving in opposite directions. The Packers have a 10-4 record, and aiming to clinch a playoff spot shortly. Meanwhile the Saints sit at 5-9, with their slim division title hope the only thing keeping the team from being eliminated, for now.
Green Bay will certainly look to solidify both aspects, clinching their own playoff birth, all while officially knocking New Orleans out of the picture.
Key Players for the Green Bay Packers
When writing about Jordan Love last week, a specific stat streak was on the line. The result: Love produced a fourth-straight game without an interception, after committing at least one in each of his first eight starts this season.
Overall, avoiding mistakes is something the Green Bay offense should strive for. When needed, Josh Jacobs can certainly help cover up any mistakes that do occur.
As mentioned in the Fantasy Football Goal Line Guide Week 16 article, Jacobs has achieved impressive milestones for the Packers in 2024. Most importantly, Jacobs has already hit a career-high for scrimmage touchdowns. Jacobs has become a key to the Green Bay red zone attack. He has been especially productive inside the opponent’s 5-yard.
The biggest concern might be over-taxing Jacobs. Since he is so efficient near the goal line, the Packers should limit his usage outside the red zone. Last week, Jacobs touched the football on Green Bay’s first eight plays from scrimmage. That needs to be avoided.
Defensively, Green Bay brought on rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper slowly. Through the team’s first five games of the season, Cooper did not play more than 38.5 percent of defensive snaps. However, that number got as high as 70.8 percent in Week 10.
In his return from injury last week, Cooper only got up to 57.6 percent of defensive snaps. But with injuries to other linebackers, Cooper may be on the field for close to three-quarters of the Packers defensive snaps.
As he is a still a rookie, Cooper will make mistakes at times. The coaching staff had mentioned alignment issues were his biggest problem early in the season. But after the snap, Cooper has constantly made plays this season. He is a sideline-to-sideline tackler who brings energy and sound tackling technique to the linebacking corps.
Key Players for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans is in a tough spot at quarterback. Either Derek Carr plays after missing the previous contest with a concussion and a broken hand, or they will be forced to start a backup. Neither side seems promising for the Saints. If Carr were to return early from these injuries, his play quality will likely be compromised.
Assuming New Orleans stays safe with Carr, they will have to turn towards a young signal-caller. The logical choice would be Spencer Rattler, a rookie fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft. He has already made three starts earlier this season, which is why it was odd to see Jake Haener get the nod this past week.
It did not take long for the Saints staff to pull Haener and place Rattler in the game. As a result, Rattler almost delivered a comeback victory. He certainly demonstrated an ability to move the offense downfield and keep dives alive.
Ultimately, New Orleans has fallen victim to the oldest football truth: injuries. The Saints will be without several key pieces for the remainder of the season. Currently, their best pass-catcher is arguably running back Alvin Kamara. Even he is dealing with an aliment and may not play.
In not many situations is the running back the longest-tenured member of any offense. But that is the case with Kamara and the Saints.
Overall on the New Orleans Depth Chart, Kamara is currently the second-longest tenured player, behind Cameron Jordan who has been on the roster since 2011.
Jordan is part of an edge rush rotation that includes players such as Carl Granderson and Chase Young. Defense end has arguably been the best position group for the Saints, and those key players are the reason why.
Keys to Win the Game
For the Packers, this is still an important contest. If they can beat the Saints, they will clinch a 2024 post-season berth. However, equally as important is getting out of this matchup with a healthy roster.
In Green Bay’s section of the article, it was mentioned that the team should avoid overtaxing Josh Jacobs. Instead, the Packers need to mix in more of Chris Brooks and Emanuel Wilson in order to spill Jacobs. Head coach Matt LaFleur could also call for more passing on first down, and not be as predictable with play-calling.
If the Packers do go with a pass-heavy approach early in the game, Jordan Love needs to keep the mistakes to a minimum. At this point, Green Bay fans are hoping he continues to play turnover-free football, like he has this past month.
Looking at the entirety of the roster, the Packers are better than the Saints. However, one way New Orleans can stick around is with Green Bay turning over the football.
As long as the Packers can keep a clean sheet in the offensive turnover department, it will go a long way towards victory. The Saints are looking to play spoiler, and should not be taken lightly.
This Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints matchup in another prime-time contest in the NFL schedule. One that could give the Packers the keys to the playoffs.
