Week 16 of the NFL season wraps up with an exciting clash between two NFC teams at Lambeau Field, where the New Orleans Saints visit the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. In their last outing, the Saints narrowly lost 20-19 to Washington but managed to cover the spread as 7.5-point underdogs. On the other hand, the Packers showcased their strength with a decisive 30-13 victory over Seattle, comfortably covering the spread as 2.5-point favorites. Historically, the Packers lead the regular season series with an 18-10 record, including a close 18-17 win at home in their most recent encounter on September 24, 2023.
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Saints Seek Redemption on the Road
The New Orleans Saints displayed resilience against Washington, nearly securing victory in the final moments, only to see their two-point conversion attempt fall short. This loss dropped their record to 5-9, placing them third in the NFC South and three games behind the Buccaneers. They currently sit 13th in the NFC playoff standings, trailing the Seahawks by three games for the last wild card spot. Throughout the game against Washington, the Saints struggled, trailing 7-0 after the first quarter, 14-0 at halftime, and 20-7 early in the fourth quarter before their last-minute touchdown attempt fell short. In total offense, they were outgained 326-245 and faced a significant disparity in time of possession, with Washington dominating 40:50 to 19:10.
This season, the Saints rank 20th in passing offense, averaging 210.2 yards per game, while they find themselves 11th in rushing, with 124.4 yards per contest. In scoring, they are 18th with an average of 22.1 points, and defensively, they are 13th, allowing 22.3 points per game. Quarterback Derek Carr has completed 189 of 279 passes for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while backup Spencer Rattler has thrown for 706 yards and two touchdowns. Key offensive contributors include running back Alvin Kamara, who has 950 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and receiver Chris Olave, with 400 receiving yards and a touchdown. Notably, the Saints are dealing with injuries to several key players, including Carr (hand/concussion) and Kamara (groin), which could impact their performance.
Packers Aim for NFC North Dominance
The Green Bay Packers are on a roll, winning four of their last five games, including a strong performance against Seattle. This victory improved their record to 10-4, keeping them in contention for the NFC North title, just two games behind the Lions and Vikings. Currently, they hold the fifth seed in the NFC playoff race, needing either a win or favorable outcomes from other games to clinch a playoff spot. The Packers jumped out to a 14-0 lead against Seattle and maintained control throughout, ultimately winning by a comfortable margin. They dominated in total offense, outgaining the Seahawks 369-208.
In terms of offensive performance, the Packers rank 11th in passing yards with 231.4 per game and tie for 4th in rushing with 144.4 yards per contest. They are also 7th in scoring offense, averaging 27.1 points per game, while their defense ranks 8th, allowing just 20.5 points. Quarterback Jordan Love has thrown for 2,953 yards, with 23 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions. Running back Josh Jacobs leads the ground game with 1,147 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. The Packers have a fairly clean injury report heading into this game, with only a few players listed as questionable, which should allow them to field a strong lineup.
Best Bets for New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers
