The Green Bay Packers (9-3) defeated the Los Angeles Rams (7-4) 36-28 at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The Packers’ offense led the team to a season-high 36 points.
Aaron Rodgers led the Packers’ offense, completing 28 passes on 45 attempts for 307 yards and three total touchdowns. AJ Dillon led the backfield with 69 rushing yards on 20 attempts while adding a receiving touchdown. Davante Adams caught eight passes for 104 yards, but it can be argued that Randall Cobb had a better day, catching four passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. However, he muffed a punt that resulted in a turnover.
On defense, Krys Barnes led the way with nine total tackles. Rasul Douglas recorded his second interception of the season with a pick-six to seal the game. In addition, Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark both sacked Matthew Stafford, with the former forcing a fumble.
For the Rams offense, Stafford completed 21 passes on 38 attempts for 302 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Darrell Henderson rushed for 55 yards on 16 attempts. Cooper Kupp led the team in receiving with 96 yards on seven receptions. Also, Van Jefferson has 93 yards on three receptions and a touchdown.
On defense, the only bright spots were Greg Gaines sacking Rodgers and Obo Okoronkwo forcing a fumble.
Game Recap
The Packers were able to score first with a one-yard rush by Rodgers for the only score in the first quarter. The Packers scored the first 10 points before the Rams fired back with a 79-yard touchdown to Jefferson. Both teams added another touchdown and field goal before halftime.
The Packers’ offense came out firing in the second half with a five-yard touchdown reception by Dillon. They kept their foot on the gas in the third quarter with a 29-yard field goal and a Douglas pick-six to bring the score to 36-17 at the end of the third quarter.
The Rams tried to mount a late comeback with a 54-yard touchdown to recently acquired Odell Beckham Jr. and a 39-yard field goal from Matt Gay. However, it was too little too late as the Packers were able to hang on to win 36-28. The Packers are now 9-0 following a loss under head coach Matt LaFleur.
The Packers got back on the board with the win after last week’s loss at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings. Cobb surprised a lot of people this week, looking like he returned to 2014 form for the Packers. He could have added on even more, but he got injured at the end of the second quarter and did not return to the game.
Also, Beckham Jr. surprised people with 81 yards and a touchdown. This was an emotional game for Adams and Packers fans, as Beckham Jr. chose the Rams over the Packers as his new team.
In what looked like a statement win, the Packers looked like one of the best teams in the NFC. The Packers are only behind the 9-2 Arizona Cardinals for the first seed in the NFC. However, the Packers hold the tiebreaker over the Cardinals. If the Packers win out and the Cardinals lose one game, the Packers will hold the number one seed and will get the first-round bye in the playoffs.
Rest Week
The Packers keep winning but they also have problems staying healthy. Cobb adds to a long list of players to go down with injuries. However, The Packers finally have their bye week coming up. This is good timing as Rodgers needs time to let his toe injury heal after not electing to have surgery. The Packers are also hopeful to have Jaire Alexander, Josh Myers, Za’Darius Smith and David Bakhtiari back for Week 14 against the Chicago Bears.
Cobb’s official injury is still up in the air as is his condition for Week 14.
“We’re still gathering opinions,” said Matt LaFleur about Cobb’s status.
The Packers will look to pick up their 10th win of the year after their Week 13 bye. Their next game comes against a struggling 4-7 Bears team who could be led by Justin Fields or Andy Dalton.
The Packers hope to follow the words of Kenny Clark in the following weeks, “We’ve just got to keep stacking wins and ride this momentum.”