- WHERE: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wis.)
- WHEN: 8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN, ABC, ESPN Deportes, NFL+
The Saints, under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, have shown some fight in recent weeks, and they’ll look to do so again in the cold weather at Lambeau Field on Monday night.
New Orleans (5-9) has a winning record under Rizzi at 3-2 since he took over for Dennis Allen. The Saints have also dealt with the injury bug at key positions the entire season. Starting quarterback Derek Carr has missed four games due to injury, the most recent being a left hand fracture, while running back Alvin Kamara (groin) has been ruled out for Monday’s game.
Meanwhile, Green Bay (10-4) is in a tough NFC North division, trying to catch up to Detroit and Minnesota in the playoff picture. It’s the first time since 2021 that Green Bay has reached 10 wins and the 33rd time in franchise history that the Packers have reached 10-plus wins in a season.
Even though the playoff race is all but over for New Orleans, Monday’s result for the Packers can be a playoff clincher if needed (depending on Sunday's results) or potentially serve to bolster their postseason positioning.
Here are four things to watch for when the Saints visit the Packers on Monday night on ESPN and NFL+:
1) Saints hand the keys to Rattler. Jake Haener drew his first NFL start of the season last week against the Commanders, getting a chance to showcase his abilities. Unfortunately for Haener, he faltered and was replaced by rookie Spencer Rattler at halftime in the Week 15 loss. In relief, Rattler led the New Orleans offense to four scoring possessions (two touchdowns and two field goals). Monday will be Rattler’s fourth start of his career. The fifth-round pick out of South Carolina has completed 69 of 120 passes for 706 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Green Bay’s defense could see a boost with Jaire Alexander, who has been inactive since Week 12 with a knee injury, listed questionable for Monday's matchup. If the Saints want to pull off an upset in Green Bay, Rattler must take care of the ball against the high-motored Packers defense.
2) Is Jordan Love heating up at the right time? The Packers QB has been on one of the most efficient runs in team history. Love has recorded a 100-plus passer rating in each of the last five games, compared to once over the first 10 weeks of the season. Only Aaron Rodgers has had a longer streak by a Packers QB (eight games in 2010 and 12 in 2011) since 1950, per NFL Research. To begin the season, Love threw at least one interception in each of his first eight starts, but he's been turnover-free for the past four games. In the Sunday night win against the Seahawks, Love threw for 229 yards to seven different receivers and connected with Romeo Doubs for two scores to continue a developing late-season trend. Since becoming a starter in 2023, Love leads all QBs with a 31-4 TD-to-INT ratio and a 114.1 passer rating from Week 11 games and on (including playoffs). The Green Bay offense has been one of the hottest attacks, scoring 30 or more points in all of the last four games. Love has proven to be dangerous in December, and Monday’s game is an opportunity for the rest of the league to take notice once again.
3) New Orleans is looking for playmakers to step up. The Saints offense will be different, with Alvin Kamara the latest star missing time. Kamara leads the team in rushing yards (950) and receiving yards (543). He is the only Saints player with 500-plus scrimmage yards in 2024. The next man up for the Saints is Kendre Miller. In Week 15, Miller ran the ball nine times for 46 yards and had a big 17-yard rush against the Commanders. Even though he isn’t the dual-threat RB Kamara is, Miller does have potential to burst for a big play or two. Wide receiver Chris Olave was designated to return this week following an injured reserve stint following his second concussion of the season in Week 9. But the Saints ruled out Olave for Monday's game after he was a limited participant in practice all week. So, Marquez Valdes-Scantling's (chest/illness; questionable) availability is important with a rookie QB making his fourth NFL start. With Kamara and Olave ruled out, it could be a long night for New Orleans' offense if they can’t get off to a quick start.
4) Packers RB having a career year. It appears that Josh Jacobs has found the perfect situation by signing with Green Bay this offseason. Entering Week 16, Jacobs ranks third in the NFL with 1,147 rushing yards, trailing Saquon Barkley (1,688) and Derrick Henry (1,474). The Packers RB has 13 scrimmage TDs, which is tied with Ahman Green (2000) and Billy Howton (1952) for the most by a player in his first season with Green Bay. The New Orleans defense is allowing 134.4 rush yards per game and have given up 100-plus rushing yards to five different players. The last time Jacobs rushed over for 100 yards was back in Week 12 against the 49ers. He could be in line for a big performance if the Saints defense finds containment difficult like it has been.
