Packers vs Rams, #1 offense vs #1 defense, Let’s Go
The Packers are ready for their first playoff game after their bye week as they play host to the Los Angeles Rams at 3:35 pm Central Time this Saturday.
The last time we saw the Packers, they won 35-16 at Soldier Field vs the Chicago Bears to finish 13-3 and the top seed in the NFC. The Rams finished 10-6 and are the #6 seed, but they won 30-20 at #3 Seattle to advance to the Divisional Round at Green Bay.
QB Jared Goff has looked good at times and not so good at other times, pretty much the story of his career. They have a capable running back in Cam Akers and some receivers in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp who can stretch the field. Goff has been battling a thumb injury and John Wolford is the guy should Goff be unable to play. As of now, Goff is the projected starter. The Packers need to make him uncomfortable out there. Throw off his rhythm and get sacks. The defense has been opportunistic lately. Let’s see some turnovers, which are huge in any game but especially huge in the playoffs.
Aaron Rodgers will likely win the MVP for the third time in his career, but what he really wants this year is to win his second Super Bowl. The Packers scored the most points in the league but they will be facing the #1 team in scoring defense. Davante Adams vs Jalen Ramsey will be something to watch. I don’t doubt that Adams will find a way to get catches but the other receivers need to make plays this Saturday. Get some separation and make the catches when the ball comes your way. Aaron Jones and the other running backs need to provide a running game in order for Rodgers to use the play action effectively. Aaron Donald suffered bruised ribs in their game at Seattle. The severity of the injury was unclear at the time but he says he will be good to go. That’s the way we should want it to be, to face the best and beat the best.
The Packers and Rams have faced each other twice before in the playoffs, and each team has won once. In 1967, the Packers faced the Rams at Milwaukee County Stadium. The Rams scored first, but that was all the scoring they would do all day as the Packers scored 28 unanswered points to win 28-7 against the 11-1-2 Rams. Eight days later, the Packers would host the Dallas Cowboys in the Ice Bowl. Packer fans know what happened there. The Packers would then go on to Super Bowl II, where they would defeat the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Vince Lombardi’s final game as the Packers’ head coach.
The other playoff matchup wouldn’t go well for the Packers at all. They lost to the St. Louis Rams 45-17 in January of 2002. Brett Favre would throw for six interceptions, three of them were returned for touchdowns. The Rams would go on to Super Bowl XXXVI, where they would lose 20-17 in a shocker to the New England Patriots.
The Packers recently picked up Damon “Snacks” Harrison. Snacks needs to be ready for the main course. Remember Howard Green? His pressure in Super Bowl XLV forced an interception that Nick Collins returned for a touchdown. Can Snacks have a similar impact? Only time will tell.
In 2017, Sean McVay became the head coach of the Rams. The offensive coordinator in his first year was Matt LaFleur. McVay has been the coach for four years but is only 34 years old. He has accomplished a lot in his short tenure, just about everything but a Super Bowl win. These two have a lot of respect for each other, but friendships take a back seat when it comes to winning, especially in the playoffs.
It’s the playoffs now and the Packers had better be ready to play from the opening kickoff. There is no “best of five” or “best of seven” in the NFL. The Rams did play in the Super Bowl just two seasons ago, so they aren’t any pushover. They have been inconsistent though. They won at Tampa and defeated the Seahawks two out of three times, but they also lost twice to the 6-10 49ers and lost at home to the Jets, who were 0-13 at the time. The Rams will be up for this game. You can count on that.
The Packers haven’t faced a defense as tough as the Rams this season, but at the same time, the Rams haven’t faced the MVP in Aaron Rodgers so far this season either. It should be quite a battle, and a battle it will be.
Season ticket holders will be allowed at the game so there will be fans at Lambeau Field on Saturday. I can probably use the hashtag #GetLoudLambeau for the first time this season. Let’s make noise if you are at the game, and if you aren’t at the game, wherever you are, be loud and proud as we cheer our beloved Packers to victory this weekend. We worked all season long to get playoff games at Lambeau Field in these playoffs. It will not end on Saturday. Let’s get this win and move on to the NFC Championship Game. We have three wins to go. Let’s get it done Packer fans!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GetLoudLambeau #GregGoshaw @gg901
