GREEN BAY, Wisconsin– Saturday’s matchup between the Packers and Rams was highly anticipated, as the league’s best offense, Green Bay, battled the league’s best defense, Los Angeles.
In the end, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (14-3) lived up to the hype, putting up 484 total offensive yards in a 32-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams (11-7); moving on to the NFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.
Rodgers and the offense were able to shake off any rust they had from their first-round bye. After exchanging field goals, Rodgers led the Packers on a 14 play, 84-yard touchdown drive thanks to solid running from Aaron Jones and smart decisions by Rodgers. He found his top receiver Davante Adams from a yard away to cap the drive with a score and take a 10-3 lead and never looked back.
The Rams kept it close, but were unable to close the gap as Green Bay’s defense put on an equally impressive performance, holding the Rams to 244 total offensive yards. This loss is the first postseason loss for the Rams since 2019 to the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.
Packers offense gets production from all over
The Rams had pulled within one touchdown in the fourth quarter, looking to get a stop to give Jared Goff and the offense a chance to tie the game. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were seemingly looking to kill some clock when Rodgers pulled back a handoff, looked downfield, and threw a strike to Allen Lazard for a 58-yard touchdown, shutting the door on any potential comeback.
Rodgers did not have an overwhelming performance, but was solid all game and delivered on the game-sealing TD to Lazard. He passed for 23/36 for 296 yards and 2 touchdowns.
FOX Sports spoke with Rodgers after the game, and asked what led to the Packers’ offense gaining almost 500 yards.
“Frankly, it could have been more,” said Rodgers, “I had a couple rough throws. We had a couple drops. But I’m just so proud of my guys, we came out strong.”
No one player stood out on the Packers on offense. The difference in the game was a collective effort from all of Green Bay’s starters.
Aaron Jones effectively carried the ball all day as he finished with 99 on 14 carries and 1 touchdown. His 60-yard carry to start the second half set up his touchdown five plays later.
Allen Lazard led the team with 96 yards receiving on 4 receptions. Robert Tonyan finished with 4 receptions for 60 yards.
Adams gets the best of the matchup with Ramsey
The matchup between receiver Davante Adams and Rams corner Jalen Ramsey garnered a lot of attention before the game kicked off, even from the two players. Ramsey is known to get in his matchup’s head by trash-talking; Adams said he did not expect much talking to go on during the week between them.
As Adams had to be escorted from the Rams sideline pregame to avoid a confrontation with Ramsey, something changed quickly.
As Adams scored the first touchdown of the game, Ramsey was visibly upset, taking his frustration on teammate Nick Scott.
Adams led the team in receptions, grabbing 9 for 66 yards and 1 touchdown, his 18th of the year. The Rams corner kept Adams under 100 yards, but failed to keep him out of the end zone. The Packers put Adams in motion pre-snap to make Ramsey chase him for the 1-on-1 matchup.
UP NEXT
Green Bay will host the winner of New Orleans vs. Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship Game Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 3:05 PM ET, FOX
