Saints @ Packers GDT: Monday, Dec. 23rd, 7:15 PM

[Pckfn23]

New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers

Monday, December 23rd, 7:15 PM CST
Spread: Green Bay Packers -14
Over/Under: 42.5

Stadium

Lambeau Field


Injury Report


Broadcast (ESPN/ABC)
https://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2024&wk=16

Announcers (Joe Buck & Troy Aikman)



Dope Sheet

https://www.packers.com/news/dope-sheet ... -time-2024

The Green Bay Packers return home to take on the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

For the 32nd straight season (1993-2024), Green Bay plays on MNF. It is the NFL's longest appearance streak in the history of MNF.
It is the second MNF meeting between the Packers and the Saints (2008 at New Orleans) and the first at Lambeau.
It is the latest MNF game ever at Lambeau Field. It will be just the fourth MNF game ever at home in the month of December. Green Bay has won the previous three (2022, 2014, 2009).
The Packers have won 18 of 28 regular-season matchups (.643) against the Saints.
Green Bay is 11-3 (.786) at home against New Orleans with a point differential of plus-127 (9.1 ppg).
Six of the last seven games between the two teams at Lambeau Field have been decided by single digits, including an 18-17 victory by Green Bay last season in Week 3.
The Packers have scored 27-plus points in 11 home games against the Saints.
Green Bay is 9-1 in non-division games this season, a .900 winning percentage that is tied for No. 1 in the NFL (Minnesota, 9-1).
All-time, Green Bay is 37-34-1 (.521) on MNF.
The Packers have won six of their past eight games on MNF.
Under Head Coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers are 5-2 on MNF, a .714 winning percentage that ranks No. 6 in the NFL since 2019.
The Packers' five wins on MNF are tied for No. 5 in the NFL since 2019.
Green Bay has won five straight home games on MNF, the longest streak in team history (since 1970).
The Packers (4-0) and Steelers (6-0) are the only teams to be undefeated at home on MNF with more than two wins since 2019.
Dating back to 2000, Green Bay is 14-5 at home on MNF, a .737 winning percentage that ranks No. 5 in the NFL over that span.
It will be the last of four consecutive scheduled prime-time games for Green Bay, which is the first time the Packers have played four straight prime-time games in a single season since the merger (Elias).
The Packers have averaged 30.0 points per game in prime-time games in 2024, No. 4 in the NFL (min. two games).
For the fourth straight season and the fifth time in the last six years, the Packers will finish the regular season with back-to-back NFC North contests. For the second consecutive season, they will travel a state over to take on the Vikings in Week 17 and then return home to face the Bears in the season finale on a date and time to be determined.
WITH THE CALL

ESPN will broadcast the game to a national audience.Play-by-play man Joe Buck joins analyst Troy Aikman in the booth with Lisa Salters reporting from the sidelines.

All Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which is made up of 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and North and South Dakota. 97.3 The Game – WRNW-Milwaukee is in its third season as the flagship station of the Packers Radio Network. For a map and full listing of radio affiliates, go to packers.com/video/radio-network. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst), and three-time Packers Pro Bowler John Kuhn (sideline reporter) call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 30th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 26th season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 81 or 226 or through the app (Packers Radio Network feed).
Westwood One will be broadcasting on radio to a national audience with Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Joe Thomas (analyst) on the call and Rich Eisen hosting pregame and halftime shows.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

Packers vs. Saints:

All-time, regular season: 18-10
All-time, at home (regular season): 11-3 (5-2 at Lambeau)
Streaks: The Packers have won three of the last four regular-season games played in Green Bay.
Last meeting, regular season: Sept. 24, 2023, Lambeau Field, Packers won, 18-17
COACHES CAPSULES


Matt LaFleur: 66-31-0, .680; (3-4 postseason); 6th NFL season
Darren Rizzi: 3-2-0, .600; (0-0 postseason); 1st NFL season
Head to Head: LaFleur 0-0 vs. Rizzi
vs. Opponent: LaFleur 2-1 vs. Saints; Rizzi 0-0 vs. Packers
MATT LaFLEUR…In his sixth season as the Packers' 15th head coach.

Is in his 16th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
In his first five seasons leading the Packers, authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 56 wins are tied for the second most in league history by a head coach in his first five seasons in the NFL, trailing only George Seifert (62 in 1989-93).
Became the first coach in NFL history to post 13-plus wins in three straight seasons and his 39 wins from 2019-21 passed Seifert (38) for the most wins by an NFL head coach in his first three seasons in the league (Elias). His 39 wins are also tied for the second most by a coach over any three-season span in league history, trailing only Andy Reid's 40 wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020-22 and Mike Ditka's 40 wins with the Chicago Bears from 1985-87 (Elias).
In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, became the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).
DARREN RIZZI…In his first season as the Saints' interim head coach.

Is the team's special teams coordinator and added the title of interim head coach on Nov. 4, 2024.
Spent 10 seasons (2009-18) with the Miami Dolphins and served as the team's special teams coordinator for his final eight seasons (2011-18). Added the title of assistant head coach in 2015-16 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2017-18.
His units have ranked in the top half of the Rick Gosselin annual special teams rankings in 12 of the 13 seasons he has served as a coordinator (2011-21, 2023), including No. 1 in 2019.
Coached in the college ranks for 16 years (1993-2008), serving as a head coach for four seasons at New Haven (1999-2001) and Rhode Island (2008). Also spent time as an assistant coach at Colgate (1993), New Haven (1994-97), Northeastern (1998) and Rutgers (2002-07).
Played tight end at Rhode Island, earning consensus All-America honors in 1992.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE PACKERS-SAINTS SERIES

The series began on November 17, 1968, when former Vince Lombardi assistants Phil Bengston (Packers) and Tom Fears (Saints) faced off in Milwaukee. The Packers defeated the Saints, 29-7, in what was the Saints' second season as a franchise.
Green Bay owns the longest win streak in the series, winning seven consecutive matchups from 1976-85.
The Packers have a 4-1 record against the Saints in the month of December, playing four of those five games in New Orleans and one in Milwaukee. This will be the first time the Packers and Saints will face off at Lambeau Field in December or later.
Green Bay and New Orleans have split the last 10 games played in the series. The Packers have won two of the last three matchups and three of the last four contests at Lambeau Field.

Weather

image.png (571.11 KiB) Viewed 949 times

Packers 38
Saints 17

[go pak go]

Some websites have the Packers wearing their throwbacks. Though we actually wore the throwbacks vs the Lions.

Them again I didn't expect to wear white twice and yet we did.

Will be interesting.

[BSA]

I was wandering around the internet yesterday and looked into Saints DC Joe Wood

He was DB coach/passing game coordinator in SF with Saleh for a year and replaced Hafley when Jeff left for Ohio State
So I'd think Saleh would have some insight to share with MLF with regards to Woods' defensive philosophies

Saints are currently ranked # 13 in points allowed. The only road games NO has won were vs Dallas in September and the NYGs in Dec.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... r/2024.htm

[BSA]

.
Here's the Saints depth chart- featuring some former Packers

MVS at WR
Lucas Patrick - starting LG
All-time good guy Jamaal Williams at RB
Shemar Jean-Charles at CB
EQ St Brown on PS
Taysom Hill on IR

https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/NO

[BSA]

.
Line movements are settling in at Packers minus 14

https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/matchu ... movements/

You've got a huge fan base in GB and a small one backing NO.
You are also taking an "indoor cat" and sending them to the Frozen Tundra in December
Starting a new guy in Spencer Rattler at QB

[salmar80]

.
Line movements are settling in at Packers minus 14

https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/matchu ... movements/

You've got a huge fan base in GB and a small one backing NO.
You are also taking an "indoor cat" and sending them to the Frozen Tundra in December
Starting a new guy in Spencer Rattler at QB

The lack of talk in this thread is a clear reflection on how little worried we are about this game... Hope LaFleur finds a way to keep their minds on the task.

Injury front looking nice:

[BSA]

'
Here's a look at Total DVOA - the Saints are just behind the Seahawks at # 19, although there is a pretty big gap between them

https://ftnfantasy.com/dvoa/nfl/team-total-dvoa

Sagarin Ratings do not look at the Saints favorably, slotting them at # 26 in the league
The Saints have also faced the 30th toughest schedule in 2024.

That being said- Rizzi is getting them to play hard and has deployed trick plays on offense
The Packers need to beat that motivation out of them early and often.

http://sagarin.com/sports/nflsend.htm

[BSA]

.
Running game will be a key for this game as the weather turns to winter

The Saints rush defense has been pretty leaky despite facing a weak schedule. Saints are giving up 134 rushing yards per game, 27th in the league

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/o ... s-per-game

As for their passing defense:
Different story as they are allowing opponents a passer rating of only 83 , that's good enough for # 6 in the league

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/o ... ser-rating

[BSA]

.
This is from Packers Wire- some more Packers- Saints tidbits

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2024/1 ... n-week-16/
.
Plus-451: "The Saints defense has allowed the most yards after catch over expected in the NFL this season, per Next Gen Stats. And opponents are averaging 6.3 yards after the catch against the Saints in 2024. This is all a fancy way of saying the Saints are struggling to get receivers on the ground after catches this season. Turns out, the Packers have several dynamic playmakers with the ball in their hands. Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft and Josh Jacobs could do major damage on Monday night, especially if the Packers prioritize the short, quick passing game. Playing in the snow and cold won’t make tackling easier for the Saints."

[BSA]

The lack of talk in this thread is a clear reflection on how little worried we are about this game.

Sure, but if pckfan23 put in the effort to give us another top-notch GDT, seems like the least we could do is populate it.

Saints WR Chris Olave was just cleared on his concussion, but Rizzi says he's still doubtful to play.
I'd guess some players on losing teams are making business decisions at this point in the season...

But not Tom Dempsey; he woulda played in GB no matter what and even asked for a Titletown tryout

[lupedafiasco]

Get an early lead fast and put Willis in to dominate.

[Crazylegs Starks]

The lack of talk in this thread is a clear reflection on how little worried we are about this game.

...But not Tom Dempsey; he woulda played in GB no matter what and even asked for a Titletown tryout

What could have been:

https://www.packers.com/news/tom-dempse ... or-packers

If only Vince Lombardi would have paid heed to Tom Dempsey's dream of kicking for the Green Bay Packers.

But he didn't during his one year as general manager and it led to one of most horrendous stretches of field-goal kicking any NFL team has ever endured.

[Dempsey] first contacted the Packers in 1967 when he was 20 years old and they were about to win their third straight NFL championship under Lombardi. With reliable veteran Don Chandler in his third and final season with the Packers there was no need for Dempsey.

[BSA]

.
Last year on December 23rd, 2023 - the Packers were 6-8
This year on December 23rd, 2024 the Packers are 10-4 and lookin for more

That's a 4 game bump; hat tip to the 2024 crew
.

[RingoCStarrQB]

Get an early lead fast and put Willis in to dominate.

I like the idea (putting in Willis) but past recent history suggests Lafleur won't budge. Irritating as he'll. Willis is trustable.

[Cdragon]

With Kamara out they've got nobody. Defense should crush them. Nice day for a shut out.

O should roll! Big win!

[BF004]

Anyone else going?

I’ll likely be at Badger State pregame.

[RingoCStarrQB]

Anyone else going?

I’ll likely be at Badger State pregame.

I'm staying home for this game. Have fun!!

[APB]

Get an early lead fast and put Willis in to dominate.

Screw that. I have Love starting in two fantasy playoff games.

I say give the Saints some of their own Sean Payton medicine: score early, score late, and then score some more with your starters racking up stats worthy of awards.

[APB]

The lack of talk in this thread is a clear reflection on how little worried we are about this game... Hope LaFleur finds a way to keep their minds on the task.

Yeah, I think it's a combination of the lack of threat the Saints present in this matchup and the near certainty of playoff placement regardless of win/loss. Just not a lot to get hyped for from a fan standpoint.

I'll be content with a comfortable win.

[APB]

We can get hyped over this: