A key element to the Green Bay Packers’ defense pitching a shutout in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints was the ability to stop the run and hold the Saints to 39 yards rushing. The Saints ended the game with 67 total rushing yards but 28 of that came on quarterback scrambles. Once the game was out of reach, the Saints became one dimensional and the defense held firm.
Before that point though, the Packers were able limit what the Saints run game could do on first and second down, putting the Saints in several third and long passing situations, where they finished 4/11 on third down.