Packers obliterate NFL’s No. 1 defense during dominant playoff win
The highly-anticipated matchup between the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defense ended in a decisive win for the offense.
The Green Bay Packers scored 32 points, gained 484 total yards, created 28 first downs, converted eight third downs, rushed for 188 yards, scored three touchdowns in the red zone, held the ball for 36 minutes, scored on their first five possessions and didn’t have a turnover or allow a sack against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday during the NFC Divisional Round.
Over their first 17 games, the Rams had never given up more than 390 total yards, 274 passing yards or 136 rushing yards in a single game. Brandon Staley’s group came into the game ranked first in the NFL in points and yards allowed per game, yards per play, and points per drive.
The Packers took them apart, piece by piece.
Aaron Rodgers produced three touchdowns, running backs Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and A.J. Dillon rushed for 191 yards and both Allen Lazard and Davante Adams caught touchdown passes.
The Packers even left some production on the field.
Rodgers and Marquez Valdes-Scantling couldn’t complete a pass in the end zone on the first drive, resulting in a field goal. Rodgers later missed Valdes-Scantling for what could have been a 92-yard touchdown in the third quarter. A few plays after, Lazard dropped a likely touchdown.
The Packers neutralized the Rams’ stars. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey gave up a touchdown pass to Adams in the first quarter. Defensive lineman Aaron Donald didn’t have a sack or a tackle for loss.
The offensive line was dominant. The Packers running backs averaged almost 6.0 yards per carry on designed runs, and Rodgers wasn’t sacked and was hit only once.
The Rams might have limited Adams to nine catches for just 66 yards, but he scored on a beautifully crafted play in the first quarter, and Lazard and tight end Robert Tonyan combined for eight catches and 156 yards.
The Packers didn’t have a turnover against a defense that had 25 takeaways in the regular season, although Rodgers could have picked twice to end the first half and Dillon nearly lost a fumble in the fourth quarter.
Overall, the Packers scored on their first five possessions and six of eight before killing the rest of the fourth quarter clock on their ninth and final drive.
With the Rams’ defense vanquished, Rodgers and the Packers are now one win away from the Super Bowl.
