Packers hold off Rams to advance to the NFC Championship Game
The Packers advanced to the NFC Championship Game after their 32-18 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday afternoon.
The Packers scored points on all four of their first-half possessions, taking a 19-10 lead into halftime. They added a touchdown on their opening possession of the second half. The Rams were able to close the gap to only seven points, but the Packers connected on a long pass to Allen Lazard to give them some valuable breathing room. Their defense and their ball-control offense finished the job.
Thoughts about this NFC Divisional Playoff win:
The Packers once again scored on their opening possession of the game, although it was just a field goal. The Rams were threatening to take the lead, but a false start on a 4th-and-1 moved them back and they settled for a field goal and a 3-3 tie.
The Rams closed the gap to 19-10 with 29 seconds left to go before halftime, but Aaron Rodgers completed a 46-yard pass to Davante Adams and a 33-yard pass to Robert Tonyan to put them in great position to perhaps score a touchdown before the half. Two incomplete passes into the endzone made them settle for a field goal instead. They were actually fortunate to get a field goal because both of those passes probably should have been intercepted. The defenders dropped both passes, giving the Packers three extra points heading into halftime.
The game was close because of two misses on conversions. After they took a 16-3 lead, they couldn’t get the ball down cleanly for Mason Crosby to attempt the extra point and J.K. Scott got up and passed it to Crosby, who got tackled and may have injured his shoulder on the play.
When the Packers took a 25-10 lead, they went for the 2-point conversion and missed it, keeping it a 2-score game. They probably should have just kicked the extra point in that situation.
A huge point in the game happened in the fourth quarter. The Packers were clinging to a 25-18 lead when A.J. Dillon fumbled on 2nd-and-4 at their own 33. Rodgers picked it up and got a yard out of it. On the next play, he hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who reached the ball over the first-down marker to keep the chains moving. The play after that, Rodgers hit Lazard for 58 yards and a touchdown to increase the lead to 32-18. The defense stopped the Rams and the Packers were able to run out the clock.
For the second straight year, the Packers will play in the NFC Championship Game, but for the first time since Aaron Rodgers became the starter, the game will be at home after playing on the road the four previous times.
The game will feature the Packers against either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the New Orleans Saints. Neither opponent will be easy, but the game will be at Lambeau Field and in front of the Packer fans, who by the way, were awesome during this game vs the Rams. It was great to see and hear fans in the stands, and they were excellent all game long.
This is the position we were hoping to be in, playing at Lambeau Field for the right to go to the Super Bowl. This is a great win but we have two more games to go. This team is more than capable of doing it. For now, let’s enjoy this win. Have a great weekend and a great week as we get ready for one more home game for our beloved Green Bay Packers!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
