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NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- If the San Francisco 49ers were looking to regain momentum heading into the playoffs, they picked the right opponent.

Jeff Garcia matched a career high with four touchdown passes as the 49ers closed the regular season with a 38-0 victory over the New Orleans Saints, who ended the year with a four-game losing streak.

San Francisco (12-4) is headed to Lambeau Field next week to face the Green Bay Packers in a wild card game. The 49ers gave up their edge for home-field advantage with last week's 27-21 setback to the Dallas Cowboys.

"I grew up in the cold," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said of the 49ers' upcoming trip to Green Bay. "It doesn't bother me a bit. We don't care where we play or when we play."

San Francisco and Green Bay met in the playoffs for four straight years from 1995-98.

"It's so important to go to the playoffs on a positive note, especially after last week's game," Garcia said. "Our defense rebounded from a tough one last week. Our offense played more aggressively."

The 49ers, who did not commit a penalty, put away the contest early as Garcia threw TD passes of 56 and 60 yards to Terrell Owens in the first quarter, giving the 49ers a 14-0 lead. Those were Owens' only receptions.

Garcia, who completed 14-of-21 passes for 263 yards, also found running back Terry Jackson for a six-yard score in the second period to make it 21-0 at the half.

"It was nice to throw some deep balls," Garcia said. "A couple times, T.O. did a nice job of just running by guys and I was able to put it somewhere where I could make a play."

The 49ers set a franchise record with their third shutout of the season, all in the last six weeks. San Francisco's defensive coordinator is Jim Mora, Jr., whose father coached the Saints from 1986-1996.

"It's been an exciting season," Mariucci said. "It's been a fantastic season for this football team. So many great things have been accomplished with more out there. They're never really satisfied."

The Saints (7-9), who rate as perhaps the league's most disappointing team after winning the franchise's first playoff game last year, committed a season-high five turnovers. Aaron Brooks completed 21-of-33 passes for only 119 yards and was intercepted four times.

"Sometimes, God humbles you for whatever reason," New Orleans coach Jim Haslett said.

After last week's loss, New Orleans receiver Joe Horn accused the Saints of quitting. Sunday's performance will do little to change that perception.

New Orleans surrendered 122 points in its last four games. In the last seven quarters, the Saints were outscored, 78-0.

"We're out of the playoffs," Horn said. "We have a losing record and we are going home. I'm not making excuses. Every player has to look in the mirror and see how their season went."

"Everyone has noticed there is a leadership problem," Brooks added. "I'm not going to get into what I feel about that situation. All I can say is that will be changed. I'm going to have to be the one to do it."

The Saints were blanked for the first time since a 31-0 defeat to the 49ers at the Superdome on October 11, 1998. That also was the 49ers' last road shutout.

San Francisco outgained the Saints by nearly 400 yards, holding a 407-126 edge in total offense. Ricky Williams was held to just 33 yards on 11 carries for New Orleans. He also caught four passes for minus-eight yards.

Garcia felt it was important for the 49ers to establish the passing game.

"Especially since we haven't been as effective though the air in the past month," he said. "I thought it was something we needed to get back to. We needed to come out here and try to be explosive, try not to hold anything back."

Horn caught three passes for 44 yards before leaving with a sprained left knee.

The Saints allowed only a field goal in the third quarter, but the 49ers added insult to injury with two touchdowns in the final period.

Garcia combined with J.J. Stokes for a six-yard TD four seconds into the period before Jackson scored on a nine-yard run to make it 38-0 with 7:45 left in the contest.

"A new season begins," Mariucci said. "There's six of us left in the NFC. It's going to be a doozy (at Green Bay). Stay tuned."

Rookie Kevan Barlow led the 49ers on the ground with 63 yards on 16 carries, while Garrison Hearst added 57 yards on 15 attempts. Stokes grabbed six passes for 79 yards.

The Saints stopped the 49ers on the game's opening possession as linebacker Charlie Clemons recovered a fumble at the New Orleans 45 after sacking Garcia for a 12-yard loss.

But after an exchange of punts, Williams fumbled at the 49ers 44. The 49ers needed only one play to get on the board and never looked back.

"We got up early and then what happens when you get up, you try to take time off the clock and then it got to a point where we basically did what we wanted," Garcia said.

Garcia finished with 32 touchdowns, his second straight season with 30 or more TDs.

The Saints suffered their worst loss since a 45-3 drubbing at Minnesota on December 1988. It was New Orleans' worst defeat at home since a 62-7 season-opening defeat to Atlanta in 1973.