Packers Wire Staff Predictions: Week 16 vs. Saints

The Green Bay Packers didn’t get any help on Sunday, but a win over the New Orleans Saints on “Monday Night Football” at Lambeau Field will still allow them to clinch a playoff spot in the deep pack of the NFC.

Can Matt LaFleur’s team take care of business at home against a 5-9 team that is eliminated from the playoffs and missing several key contributors?

Here’s how the Packers Wire staff thinks the Week 16 showdown with the Saints will play out:

Zach Kruse: Packers 24, Saints 10 (8-6)

The Saints can’t be overlooked, not after winning three of their first four games under Darren Rizzi and then giving the Commanders a scare last Sunday. But when you play against someone, it means so much, and the Saints are going to be seriously shorthanded on Monday. Derek Carr is out. The same goes for Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Taysom Hill, Rashid Shaheed and Paulson Adebo. The Packers’ defense could dominate against a patched-up offense led by rookie quarterback Spencer Ratter, who has been sacked 10 times on just 140 dropbacks and is 0-3 as a starter. Add in the possibility of the Packers running game breaking loose, and this game should never be in doubt. While it’s possible the 30-point streak continues, I’m not betting on it. The Packers still win by two touchdowns in a fairly stress-free victory at home.

Brandon Carwile: Packers 31, Saints 13 (11-3)

This is not only a game the Packers should win, but one they should dominate. At 5-9, the playoffs are a pipe dream for a Saints team with virtually nothing to play for and without three of their best offensive players: Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Derek Carr. Moving the ball will likely be a challenge for rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, especially without Kamara there to hand or throw the ball. New Orleans’ defense also doesn’t match up particularly well against Green Bay. They enter Week 16 with the 27th-ranked run defense about to take on the fourth-ranked rushing attack. I could easily see Josh Jacobs leading the charge on a monster day for the Packers offense.

Brennen Rupp: Packers 27, Saints 10 (13-1)

Future!