Packers 32 Rams 18: Game Balls and Lame Calls

Running game steamrolls number one rated defense.

When the game is on the line, championship teams roll up their sleeves and take over.  The Green Bay Packers, looking every bit the part, did just that Saturday afternoon.  With the determined Los Angeles Rams closing to within one touchdown and getting the ball back early in the 4th quarter, the Packers rose up to the occasion on both sides of the ball.  The defense got a key sack and a stop, the offense responded with a 58 yard touchdown bomb to Allen Lazard, and the defense held again with the help of another sack.  The offense then rammed (pun intended) forward for three first downs to run out the clock.  The Packers convincingly punched their ticket to the NFC championship game with a 32 to 18 conquest.

They didn't need snow.  They didn't need below zero temperatures.  They would have won this game in L.A., in Australia, or on Mars.  They were clearly the better team.  Hearing all week about the strength of the Rams' defensive front, Coach Matt LaFleur and his staff made the decision to run right at it, instead of away from it.  They wound up running over it, to the tune of 188 yards rushing.  That set up a series of play action successes that Los Angeles simply couldn't stop, the backbreaker being the bomb to Lazard.  The play was sweet vindication for Lazard, who dropped a sure long TD throw in the third quarter.

The national talking heads will likely downplay Green Bay's 484 yards of total offense against the top rated defense in the league, attributing it to the limited availability of a wounded Aaron Donald.  But that's baloney.  The Packers O-line was blowing through the Rams' front even when Donald was playing.

What has me most excited about this win was how much of a team effort it was.  Virtually everyone stepped up and contributed.  So giving out game balls is a bit futile, since I don't have enough space to hand out 53 of them.  But here goes:

GAME BALLS

Jamaal Williams

Yes, Aaron Jones ran for 99 yards and a score, and his 60 yard effort on the first play of the second half was huge.  But it was Jamaal's hard nosed, bull dozing ventures into the teeth of the Rams prestigious front seven that was key.  Time and again he converted on third and short.  Consistently he was churning for extra yards after contact on first down to stay ahead of the chains.  Every one of his 65 yards rushing was critical.  AJ Dillon chipped in a few nice carries as well before leaving with a thigh injury.

 

Elgton Jenkins

The second year wonder neutralized Aaron Donald throughout the first half.  No doubt he was getting double team help some of the time, but for the most part he held his own.  The entire offensive line owned the vaunted Rams D.  Jenkins was joined by Billy Turner, Corey Linsley, Lucas Patrick and Rick Wagner in consistently blasting holes through the front.  Aaron Rodgers was not sacked, and, for the most part, had all day to throw.

 

Aaron Rodgers

Once again his poise and clutch execution were of paramount importance.  Nothing rattles him.  For example, with time running out in the first half, Rodgers threw inaccurately to Davante Adams.  Adams had to lurch behind him to catch the ball.  The gain was 22 yards, but might well have been a touchdown with a good throw.  On the very next play, Rodgers makes a magnificent scramble and, on the dead run, launches a perfect pass down field to Robert Tonyan for 33 yards, setting up a field goal which boosted it back to a two score game.  QB12 finished with 294 yards, 2 scores, and a QB rating of 108.1.  Oh, and how about that pump fake move on his one yard touchdown run?  That was downright Favre-esque.

 

Lazard, Adams, MVS, Tonyan

With Davante held to just 66 yards on 9 catches, the Packers' balance at the position shined.  Lazard, Tonyan and MVS each caught four throws and each had key conversions at pivotal moments.  It could have, should have, been even better.  EQ dropped a pass in the end zone that was thrown a bit high, but probably should have been caught.  Lazard dropped the aforementioned probable TD, and Rodgers overthrew a wide open MVS in the third quarter.  Still, I was impressed at how each of the receivers stepped up to contribute to the cause.

 

Just Give One to the Whole Defense

Where do you begin?  Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary kept pushing blockers into Jared Goff's lap.  Both had sacks.  Za'darius had a sack and caused another by flushing Goff up in the pocket on the Rams' final possession.  Jaire Alexander made a spectacular charge and tackle on a quick pass to Robert Woods for a loss on that final drive.  Krys Barnes nearly made a diving pick, despite wearing a club on his injured left hand.  Christian Kirksey stoned Malcolm Brown to stop a drive on third and long.  Dean Lowry pushed his man into next week to enable a sack by Clark.  On and on.  The unit did struggle to slow down LA's uptempo drives, but eventually solved that problem by ratcheting up the rush on Goff and forcing third and long, making him hold the ball too long. 

 

LAME CALLS

Missed DPI on MVS Bomb

Yet another opportunity to blow the game open came on another long bomb to MVS.  In the third period, Rams defensive back Darius Williams pulled Marquez's left arm just before the ball got there.  It should have been a DPI and MVS complained but didn't get the call.

 

Special Teams...Again

It's truly something different every week.  This time a botched extra point snap after Green Bay's second touchdown.  The kick-off return game continues to be uninspiring.  And the kick-off coverage unit allowed a big return after the Packers' final touchdown.

 

SHORT YARDAGE

•  Lazard's 58 yard touchdown catch overshadowed the play that made it possible, a spectacular diving effort by MVS to pick up a first down off a quick pass on 3rd and 3.  MVS made the leap with a defender hanging on his legs, and somehow kept his knee from touching the ground.

•  I almost had a heart attack when Rodgers dropped back into his own end zone on 2nd and 17, and held the ball for what seemed like forever.  I was certain he was going to get sacked for a safety.  But just as the pass rush was swooping over him, he unleashed a beautiful 22 yard strike to Lazard for a first down.  Incredible.

•  We really need to have a better two point conversion play than that lame throw behind the line of scrimmage to Aaron Jones.

•  Preston Smith must have the longest arms in the NFL.  He had two more batted passes.  Does anybody keep that stat?  He must lead the league.

•  I don't know how loud those 9,000 fans actually were in the stadium, but they sounded absolutely great on TV.

•  Favorite snapshot:  Rodgers turning the tables and placing the crown over Lazard's head after the latter's long TD grab.

 

THEY SAID IT

Corey Linsley:  "They are the number one scoring defense for a reason....it gives us a tremendous amount of confidence moving forward, and obviously we can see things that we did against them, and try to replicate it moving forward."

Aaron Rodgers:  "I'm just so happy for our guys.  Definitely got emotional just thinking about what we've been through.  It got me emotional with the crowd out there today.  I'm just so really happy about everything that happened tonight."

Davante Adams:  "You come into Lambeau you're playing a different brand of football.  It takes you out of your element in terms of the way you talk, the way you play, you get rattled man.  It's tougher to communicate.  We had fans in there today.  They had it rockin', so, everything was on our side."

Matt LaFleur:  "We went out there with the mentality that we were going to be physical, and I think that showed up tonight in all three phases.....our guys (receivers) didn't get the respect they deserved from the media, but we knew what we had on our roster. "   

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.

__________________________

29 points
 

Comments (96)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
GregC's picture

January 17, 2021 at 06:28 am

Most people seemed to think that the Rams would match Aaron Donald up against Lucas Patrick, but he mostly seemed to be matched up with Elgton Jenkins. That worked well for us. The entire O-line played great, and Donald was not quite himself, so maybe it didn't matter anyway.

I don't want to bad-mouth Mike McCarthy because he had a great run in Green Bay, but I have to say it: The Matt LaFleur offense is way better than McCarthy's. That was a change that needed to be made.

37 points
37
0
Turophile's picture

January 17, 2021 at 07:27 am

Sometimes you don't realise how much difference a coach can make until you actually see how differently things go when players are schemed open, rather than just relying on receivers beating their opposite numbers. That old scheme of McCarthy's never evolved as far as I could see, which meant smart defenses often knew exactly what was coming.

This offense is designed to confuse defenses and it does a good job of that. La Fleur appears to have much more confidence in the run game and puts more effort into making it work...........which in it's turn helps disguise when a pass is coming.

We already know McCarthy got a bit lazy towards the end in Green Bay, sliding out of meetings to go get a massage etc. Contrast that with La Fleur. Rodgers mentioned yesterday how he (La Fleur) puts so much work in to examine the minute details of an opponent, it gets close to information overload.

As long as he doesn't let up, he might be a Packers coach for a long, long time.

14 points
14
0
croatpackfan's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:46 am

It is strange how we forget another important person, besides MLF, in building game plans and preparing offense for games. Aaron Rodgers & MLF said several times how important is Nathaniel Hacket, especially in gold zone plans and plays, for this highly successful gold zone offense Packers have today.

Also we should not forget Brian Gutekunst who has build this team the way he did it.

I really hope Packers will be the winner at the end of the season, and I predict that SB game will be Bills vs Packers.

But at the end we should give respect to the people involved in building this team to this level. Together with players.

8 points
9
1
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 08:42 am

As long as we're getting into assistant coaches worthy of praise, let me throw the name of Adam Stenavich into the ring. The Packers have lost the NFL's highest paid OL in Bakh on two different occasions this year, with the second occassion being current. Their preferred starter at RG was lost in week 1. They lost their All Pro OC for a time earlier this year. They've have been forced to play their 8th OL (Runyan) for extended periods. Prior to the season, they took a significant downgrade at RT by replacing Bulaga with Wagner, which drove plenty of restless comments here and elsewhere.

Through it all, the offensive line has been a key driver of the incredible offensive success that is beyond my wildest expectations coming into the season. Without the incredible job done by everyone in the OL room, they would not be preparing for their first home NFC CG with Rodgers as starter.

20 points
20
0
croatpackfan's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:45 am

I agree with you. Have to recognize excellence...

3 points
3
0
PeteK's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:19 am

Time changes everything and Lafleur could find himself in the same situation in 6-7 yrs.

1 points
3
2
pacman's picture

January 17, 2021 at 08:30 pm

I don' t like to bad mouth anybody either but that is just calling it like it is/was. (Careful, though, I got down voted by some for making this comment this year a couple times). There were many of us on this board that called but more creative plays etc for many years and all MM kept saying was that the players have to win their one on ones. So I don't see anything wrong with being upset at what is obvious now - that MM et al wasted many years with AR.

3 points
3
0
flackcatcher's picture

January 18, 2021 at 11:36 am

There was a lot of lazy cheap shots at McCarthy during his final years, much of it undeserved. The fact is McCarthy burned himself out 1) fighting over who had the final word in player personal 2) trying to get his star QB back with the rest of the team without wrecking their relationship. And that was only a small part of issues going on at 1265. Mike McCarthy was a large part of holding that organization together during 2017-2018 when the infighting threaten to tear the Packers apart.

0 points
0
0
Archie's picture

January 19, 2021 at 09:40 am

"....So I don't see anything wrong with being upset at what is obvious now - that MM et al wasted many years with AR."

It was obvious then and it is even more obvious now. I was pounded on this board when I brought it up over and over. And, during that time, I was even threatened with banishment from this site via direct email. Somehow I outlasted MM/TT. With new management I had hope again but what BG/MLF have done in 3 drafts and two seasons is nothing short of the modern day equivalent of Lombardi-esque. Let's hope AR get's SB wins #2 and #3 to close it out.

0 points
0
0
LeotisHarris's picture

January 17, 2021 at 04:57 pm

And, quite frankly, I think the Packers fundamentals have improved and I haven't seen any drop off in pad level.

3 points
3
0
Stroh's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:00 pm

McCarthy offense was outstanding and some important aspects of it have been copied and are still prominent in the NFL. It simply became time to move on for both parties. 10 yrs seems to be the max shelf life for a HC in any one place. Same was true of Andy Reid

Lafleur offense is on all the rage now, just like McCarthy was 10 yrs ago.

3 points
3
0
cpabandit's picture

January 17, 2021 at 06:36 am

Great game for so many players. Great game for MLF! Seems many of them that Packers fans thought were a bust have matured and developed into the players we hoped. Clark and Gary are beasts. For years Rodgers took sack after sack. Now his jersey is actually cleaner than Brady's jersey! No longer does he have to scramble and look over his shoulder because he has the best O-line in the game. Crosby is money. MVS now has hands. The Packers put up almost 500 yards against the #1 defense in the league. The Packers had four sacks more than the Rams. Just to knit pick a bit...Savage tackles with his back. No more three man rush. I don't like seeing a QB with one thumb complete pass after pass to wide open receivers twenty yards downfield. It is no good for the Packers and Packer fans. Game ball must go to the O-line. They have to find a way to keep Aaron Jones next year. Go Pack go!

10 points
12
2
murf7777's picture

January 17, 2021 at 07:56 am

“I don't like seeing a QB with one thumb complete pass after pass to wide open receivers twenty yards downfield.“
Don’t have stats to back up my thoughts but I can only think of one completion of around 20 yards. I also believe the Packers D game plan was to allow dink and dunk passes that he threw, but make sure you don’t allow Yac yards, which they did extremely well. The Packers seemed to be very confident they would score points and if they made Rams do long drives they wouldn’t keep up. There’s always the game within the game.

I’ll need to rewatch the game without alcohol and with friends yelling shots shots shots after every packer TD. Bring on the Fireball...

7 points
8
1
dobber's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:52 am

You're right: they had the two seam routes early that powered their first drive, but after that it was all short. Just about everything Goff completed was short.

2 points
2
0
Stroh's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:18 pm

Rams had exactly ONE pass for 20 yesterday in the game. They barely even attempted throwing downfield! Whoever says otherwise isn't paying attention.

0 points
0
0
egbertsouse's picture

January 17, 2021 at 06:41 am

Yeah, the best defensive player in the NFL only played half of his usual snaps and was obviously limited by the injury when he played. But that didn’t make a difference. Sure. Hey, they played well and they won, you don’t have to act like a fanboy and say crazy shit.

-18 points
3
21
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 07:21 am

A healthy Donald is no doubt dangerous and he clearly was not close to healthy. The Packers are about as far away from the seive Seattle OL as it gets. So he would not have been as disruptive this week as last week.

The Packers might not have gone for 484 but they still win, IMO.

8 points
8
0
Bure9620's picture

January 17, 2021 at 07:58 am

I don't doubt Donald was not healthy but then he needs to be listed on the injury report which he was not all week. This is usually a league fine.

6 points
6
0
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 08:26 am

He was on the injury report.

-2 points
0
2
Bure9620's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:11 pm

Yeah he was you're right but not designated for Thursday or for game day

1 points
1
0
Stroh's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:22 pm

Why? Everyone, even you, knew he was playing. He wasn't questionable or doubtful. He was 100% going to play, so no injury designation was necessary!

0 points
0
0
bassrock's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:42 am

Blah Blah Blah Blah. Jenkins dominated him. Was awesome seeing Donald lose his cool while being pushed around. Was he knicked up? Probably, but tell me one player that's not after a long season.

11 points
11
0
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:23 pm

I think what Donald had goes beyond the normal nicks and bruises that everyone has. I give him all the credit in the world for trying to gut it out. I think there is a zero % chance he would have played a regular season game in that condition.

2 points
2
0
fordguy's picture

January 17, 2021 at 04:10 pm

For you to say that means you've never had a rib injury before.

1 points
1
0
Stroh's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:26 pm

Its incredibly painful and difficult to breathe heavily with that injury. He deserves props for trying and playing as much as he did. Jenkins handled him just fine. But that was like 50% of the real Aaron Donald.

0 points
0
0
MarkinMadison's picture

January 17, 2021 at 07:24 am

It is a game of attrition. It is a team game. I'll see your Donald at 50% and raise you a Bakh at 0%.

27 points
27
0
NickPerry's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:38 am

There's 10 other players on that #ONE Defense on every snap. Don't try and tarnish what the Packers did to the other 10 plus one when Donald was out, 10 2/3 when Donald was in.

Hey they won, KICKED THEIR ASS, so you don't need to act like a bitter fan and even say a word. Matter of fact it's been quite a while since you actually complimented this Packers team or saying something NICE....just saying.

BTW...You have to admit, MarkinMadison made a great point. No Bakh equals whatever the Rams lost with a half strength Donald. I mean he IS the best O-Lineman in the NFL!

7 points
8
1
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:32 am

Speaking the truth does not tarnish anything. Speaking the truth is simply speaking the truth.

Saying that Aaron Donald is a great player that was not at his best yesterday is the truth.

0 points
0
0
marpag1's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:49 pm

Honestly, the whole pre-game storyline about the nearly Almighty Rams Defense was badly overblown. Yes, the Rams had a great defense. Yes, Donald and Ramsey are both blue chippers. Yes, their stats for the season were awfully impressive. But people were acting as if it were somehow IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to beat the Rams on account of their defense.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Rams lost SEVEN GAMES this season, right?

I mean, they lost to the Jets, for shit's sake. Maybe they're not as awe-inspiring as some people seem to think.

5 points
5
0
barutanseijin's picture

January 17, 2021 at 01:07 pm

Meh. Guys who play on the DL get a lot of hype. X Sacks! Y Hurries! Oooh! As a result, their impact is often overrated, by football people like Ryan Pace, by the media and by fans. As good as he was, how many championships did JJ Watt bring Houston? In the 2012 matchup with the Packers, he got a couple sacks. Big deal -- the Packers still laid a 40-burger on the Texans. The Lions with Suh were still a bad team. The Bears with Mack still lose twice a year to the Packers. And so on.

In contrast, OL guys don't get much hype, even when they're really good. And that goes double for the interior guys. Some guard in Green Bay is not going to get the ink a DL guy in a big media market will -- even if he is making a bigger impact on games than that DL dude.

The Rams with a 100% healthy Donald would still have lost the game because the Packer OL is just that good.

2 points
3
1
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 07:39 am

Certainly Elgton Jenkins is worthy of recognition but I would have done so by giving the game ball to the entire OL. Rodgers was barely touched and they ran for 188. That's not scheme or skill position talent. That's the 5 guys up front dominating the guys across from them. Great job by Turner, Jenkins, Linsley, Patrick and Wagner. Throw in Daffney, Lewis and Tonyan, who got screwed on a holding call.

And speaking of bad calls by the refs, I wouldn't say the non-DPI on the MVS bomb was an example. Sure there was contact but I much prefer the refs let the players decide over a flag fest. If that had been Jaire, I would have called it one heck of a defensive play.

17 points
17
0
Turophile's picture

January 17, 2021 at 07:46 am

The holding call on RT Wagner was a poor call as well..........but refs always have and always will get it wrong, sometimes.

5 points
5
0
Bure9620's picture

January 17, 2021 at 08:03 am

I am eating crow on Bill Turner. I never understood the signing and thought he would be an absolute liability at Tackle (which he was at times in Denver.) Gute got that one right

7 points
7
0
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 08:29 am

I think a lot of people are sitting down for the same meal. Me included.

5 points
5
0
murf7777's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:07 am

Maybe Gute saw something good about his play at Denver that you missed?

2 points
2
0
jannes bjornson's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:34 pm

Turner knew outside zone scheme and was a pulling guard from the LG spot. He gets to the second level fast. Played LT for N Dakota State. Movement skills and has gotten stronger up top.

2 points
2
0
dobber's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:58 am

This, in addition to the development of Jenkins and Patrick, is why I second the notion above that Stenavich (who was not a lead OL coach above the college level) has become a really valuable coach.

9 points
9
0
jannes bjornson's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:35 pm

I would make a strong effort to try to get Lindsley back on board.

1 points
1
0
Archie's picture

January 19, 2021 at 09:46 am

Me too. More important than Jones. We can draft a couple more RBs to pair with Dillon. Maybe bring back Williams at the same price but $15MM/yr for Jones is unfortunately too much for a RB.

1 points
1
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 17, 2021 at 05:24 pm

Ditto about Turner looking like a liability at OT. The signing wasn't so bad since I'd seen enough of Bell and his ilk, though the Packers got into a bidding war with Denver and I thought Turner was pricey given his ability. That seemed accurate in his first season in GB.

Turner simply has played better this year.

1 points
1
0
hawk's picture

January 17, 2021 at 08:03 am

HankScorpio, you are right on target with your understanding of the overwhelming reason for this win.......the O line! Great protection for Rodgers and opening holes for the running game is sure fire recipe for success. Sorry Lass, you completely missed the fact that the game was won the trenches. All the offensive things you mentioned were the direct result of the great work by the O line.

2 points
3
1
PeteK's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:33 am

Hank,Not when the defender his tugging on the receivers jersey preventing separation. Ah well , bad calls usually even out , part of the game.

0 points
1
1
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:12 pm

Agreed that is is part of the game and tends to even out. I bet plenty of Packer DBs were doing a little jersey tugging yesterday too.

-1 points
0
1
flackcatcher's picture

January 17, 2021 at 02:53 pm

My Green and Gold glasses only see perfect mirror coverage each and every play... :-)

4 points
4
0
murf7777's picture

January 17, 2021 at 07:46 am

My friend and his daughter were at the game and he texted me the crowd was very loud. Here’s to the 9000 fans who probably have sore throats this morning. Thank you for providing energy and making it just a bit more difficult for the Rams.

The Packers played like a team on a mission....period.

20 points
20
0
Stroh's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:32 pm

I was in my Packers bar and I have a sore throat. Why the hell don't you?!

0 points
0
0
FLPackfan's picture

January 17, 2021 at 08:11 am

This team is no longer a soft team, those pounding runs by Jamal into the heart of the Rams D and the determination shown my A Jones showed that. You add that Oline that people questioned all year long along with the tenacity of the Defense that held the Rams to under 300 total and less than 100 on the ground, we have a Championship team. MM did the team right in the beginning but it was past time to cut the cord when they finally fired him.

13 points
13
0
PackfanNY's picture

January 17, 2021 at 08:45 am

The one player who isn’t getting any mention today is Marquez Valdez Scantling. I get he had “only” 4 catches but a couple, if I remember correctly, were for first downs. He also was wide open deep down the field but Rodgers made one of his only poor throws. His deep speed makes him a presence that forces teams to respect the whole field.

14 points
14
0
Swisch's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:32 am

Hooray for MVS!!!
I still don't know how -- on 3rd-and-three, late in the game -- he picked up that first down along the sidelines. Spectacular!

3 points
3
0
PeteK's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:34 am

And a good grab on a throw behind him.

3 points
3
0
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:14 pm

That was definitely one hell of a nice effort to get the first. The Rams were in perfect positions with two guys to stop him short of the sticks.

2 points
2
0
GregC's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:19 pm

Agreed, and I think that if Rodgers had put the ball a little higher on that throw into the end zone just before the half, MVS very well may have snagged it for a TD. His best play was the first down on that short throw just before the long TD to Lazard. When MVS caught that ball, I did not think he would be able to reach the sticks, but he did. He looked a little like Davante Adams on that play.

3 points
3
0
packerbackerjim's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:12 am

Game: AR for recovering the fumble by Dillon. Could have been a disaster.
Lame: Scott panicking the botched extra point and getting Crosby creamed. Could have been a disaster.

5 points
7
2
Swisch's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:29 am

Huge punt for Scott, though, in the fourth quarter with the Packers only up by a touchdown -- the ball stopped dead inside the ten only about a yard from where it landed, like a Tiger Woods pitching wedge.
Plus, on the extra point, the snap was really bad. I'm not sure what happened afterward, but it would be interesting to get Crosby's take on the way he was tackled by the Rams (i.e. if it was a dirty play).

5 points
5
0
LeotisHarris's picture

January 17, 2021 at 05:12 pm

That really was a clutch punt. I was happy for the kid.

The botched snap, for me, puts the focus back on special teams coaching. I like to think somewhere along the line Coach M mentioned you do not want to go full Garo Yepremian on a miscue.

3 points
3
0
jurp's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:29 am

Not only did Rodgers recover the ball, he actually gained a yard advancing it, which was crucial when we got the first down by a yard a play later.

Of course, had Rodgers just fallen on the ball and lost three yards or so, I'm assuming that MLF calls a different play, but still, Rodgers' play made the conversion much easier.

5 points
5
0
PackfanNY's picture

January 18, 2021 at 02:27 pm

Good memory. When Dillon dropped the ball I think I blacked out. I think I saw Rodgers pick it up and fall forward. I’m screaming “oh no”. My son is yelling back “don’t worry” Rodgers got it and “gained a yard”. Rodgers really was in the right place on that one.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:00 am

If I'm a Rams fan, that Dillon fumble was the break they needed to try to get back into the game...and they couldn't capitalize on it.

4 points
4
0
PeteK's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:38 am

I know his timing was off, but Crosby should Have attempted the kick as Scott recovered.

-1 points
1
2
Mvlc1's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:13 am

GAME BALLS: Behnke and Nags Watch Party! FOX broadcast was all about the RAMS. I usually listen to both at the same time, but finally muted the damn TV. The Entire Packers organization! Williams power running, Lazard's TD, Za's "lightning" sack, and best of all, Jaire's read on the WR screen!
LAME CALL: FOX'S broadcast of the L.A.Rams vs that "other" team! How'd that work out for you?
GO PACK GO!

3 points
5
2
bassrock's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:14 am

I about puked when the announcers said the Ram's took a time out because of the crowd noise. Hey I give the fans credit for being great and loud. But that statement about made me spit up my beer.

2 points
2
0
jurp's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:31 am

I thought that Fox's fake "team owners meeting" skit was incredibly insulting to GB's fans/stockholders.

5 points
5
0
PackfanNY's picture

January 18, 2021 at 07:51 pm

The Fox pre-game comedy skits took a hit when they didn’t bring back Rob Riggle. I thought some of his stuff was funny. The attempts at comedy this year have been rather weak. But hey that’s just one man’s opinion.

0 points
0
0
Dano-W's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:49 am

I as well was put off by FOX’s pregame glorifying Cam Akers and Jalen Ramsey. You would have thought that Cam Akers is the 2nd coming of Adrian Peterson in his MVP year and with Ramsey blanketing our receivers, ARod would not complete a pass the entire game. The strange thing was their final picks and score differential were all for the Pack to win and most had the Pack by 10. I guess they got that wrong with the Packers winning by 14 and foregoing a score at the end of the game.

0 points
1
1
PeteK's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:42 am

I would rather read Cheesehead pregame articles and radio shows instead of those fluffed up shows.

1 points
1
0
GregC's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:23 pm

The pregame shows are always lame, but I thought the broadcast of the game was fine. I liked Moose Johnston's point about how Lazard could get open for the deep ball because he does the dirty work with all his blocking. I didn't detect any bias in the broadcast.

4 points
4
0
Stroh's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:38 pm

They're just goggle wearing syncofants. The game call by announcers was fine.

0 points
0
0
Gman1976's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:38 am

Excellent article Ken. You summed it up well. One addition to game ball goes to Rodgers who made his long throw to Tonyan with Donald pulling on his jersey; and one lame call to Pettine who still uses the 3 man rush from time to time that results in good gains for our opponents. Oh, how I hate that 3 man rush that was mentioned by a fellow reader above. You can predict a completed pass most every time (as well as a forementioned screw up by our special teams).

0 points
4
4
NickPerry's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:02 am

Game Balls... Like Ken said there's just too many. But I'll say this, IF the Packers continue to pay like they have the last 3 games, they can beat anyone!

Rashawn Gary... 35 games into his NFL career at a NEW position from what he played in college and I'd say he's starting to get it. Maybe just maybe Gute DID get that #12 selection right 2 years ago. He just brings it every snap he's in. I think Mike Smith is right about Gary.

Kenny Clark... Clark looked like a man among boys. All I can say is stationary guys like Brees or Brady might be in some REAL trouble.

O-Line...HOLY SHIT!!

MVS... His 1st catch for a first down and his last catch also for a 1st down are exactly what I wanted to see from MVS. On both he did more than just run straight ahead.

Lazard...So happy for Lazard. He did his usual job with great blocking but he stepped up big time catching the ball. It looks like that core injury might be fully healed at the exact right time.

MLF... I LOVE this coach. He called a great game.

Rodgers, Adams, Jones, Big Bob and Williams... It just goes without saying.

# 8 Quarters!

7 points
8
1
blacke00's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:04 am

For those of you that may have read a comment I made yesterday....It's the OL stupid. If the OL controls the LOS the Packers would win. They did and they did.

I was skeptical of Gute's personal, but I am now eating my crow with gravy and potato dumplings.

2 points
3
1
Swisch's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:13 am

No need to boast, but it's best to be a beast rather than a bust, and a boost to the whole team.
When Lombardi took over in 1959, it seemed Hornung and Nitschke were busts. Bart Starr would've been considered a bust, but then again he was only drafted in the 17th round.
So sometimes it takes coaching for a player to find his potential, as well as fans to be at least a little patient (and even to show some Love).
On a related note, how sweet it is to see undrafted free agents making an impact and becoming potential stars -- including Lazard, Tonyan, and Barnes.

3 points
3
0
PeteK's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:48 am

Those diamonds in the rough are also my favorite. That's why I pay careful attention to the day after the draft is over.

1 points
1
0
JohnnyLogan's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:15 am

How about Gute! Gary at #12 and I was so bummed I had to replace a keyboard given the number of whiny complaints I wrote. Gary is now one of my favorite players, someone the other team has to worry about because he seems to cause a QB pressure on every snap and defends his side of the field against the run like a border wall. Hitting on Jaire, Savage, Jenkins, those aren't doubles or even triples, they're home runs and Gute's OPS has to be over .1000. I'm beginning to believe that in 3 or 4 years, when Rodgers moves on to be the full-time host of Jeopardy, Love will step in smoothly and carry on the tradition of Packer Hall of Fame QBs. Hard to doubt Gute at this point. I'm a believer.

10 points
10
0
Swisch's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:35 am

Johnny, good comments, good writing, good humor.

0 points
1
1
PeteK's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:52 am

Johnny, remember LF was a QB and this might be his project just like Lombardi/Starr, Holmgren/Favre, and McCarthy/Rogers. There is certainly an abundance of Lafleur love out there. LOL

3 points
3
0
tonys247's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:16 am

Los Angeles Rams vs Green Bay Packers 2021 Live Stream FREE : Watch NFL NFC Divisional Playoff Football Game
Watch Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams Live and TV guide, NFL Football Game 2021 Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams Live: team news, kickoff time, predictions, live Online

LIVE NOW:> https://tinyurl.com/yybvu9b7

LIVE NOW:> https://tinyurl.com/yybvu9b7

How to Live Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams Live NFL Football Game 2021.After suffering a shocking defeat, the will be hoping to beat St.in

Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams Live is gridiron NFL Football Game 2021 played by St. Thomas Aquinas vs) Bloomingdale teams in the . It ranks among the most popular
interscholastic sports in both countries, but its popularity is declining. Between 2009 and 2021, participation in NFL Football Game 2021.
The St. Thomas Aquinas vs) Bloomingdale are Bledisloe Cup f

-1 points
0
1
porupack's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:45 am

As I observed before the game what will win the game for the packers is.....:, Gute has assembled an offense that prioritizes above average blockers as much, or maybe even more than pure athleticism. Lewis, Tonyan, MVS, Lazard, Jones, Williams, Adams, Dafney. This is an understated key for the success in 2020. Lazard; wow. The threat! Doing the dirty work blocking all game, and then getting those key opportunities. So awesome, and deserving!

Very daring game plan, ironically when facing the premier front 7. MLF outcoached McVay. He took McVay’s script for defense, and rather than try to pick apart Rams secondary and avoid the heart of the rams defensive attack, he went bold and went right after the strength of Rams defense. Wow. MLF. Lot more can be said about his game plan.

That Oline, was amazing. Opening up narrow windows and taking it to the Rams, thinking that they could win with 4 man rush. Glad AJones got the handoff and score after his awesome big run opening the 3rd Q.

Elgton Jenkins, completely took Aaron Donald out of the game. He made Donald realize there was no more point in playing any further. Aaron Donald’s look of futility after the second drive was stunning! Jenkins: what a find in the second round.

Rams have no excuses. Missing Cooper Kupp and ADonald had little effect on the outcome. Neither would have made a difference, as Van Jefferson was good in Kupp’s place. Rams were just outcoached and outplayed.

9 points
9
0
aaronqb's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:49 pm

Don't forget TT. He drafted or signed most of today's offense - Rodgers, Adams, Jones, Bakhtiari, Linsley, Williams, Tonyan, and Patrick. Gute was largely responsible for the new defense, but TT deserves huge praise for the offense we see today.

1 points
1
0
jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 17, 2021 at 10:55 am

"Special Teams...Again"

I'd be very curious to see something. But I doubt we ever could. How much Practice and Meeting time do the GBPs give to ST compared to lets say a perennially good ST franchise like the Bears. Is it possible MLF has just said, "Let's get by with Special Teams being just barely enough and put all of the effort and time into Offense and Defense?"

IDK, I'm reaching for explanations on how GB ST can be scraping the bottom of the barrel year after year with players making High School sorts of mistakes.

-1 points
1
2
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:47 am

I'd love to know that as well. There has to be some kind of reason. And it is not talent level. You don't go 26-6 over consecutive regular seasons without good talent up and down the roster,

If I knew the roster was set and the team is coached in such a way to maximize offense/defense and just get by on ST, I could rest more easily. A design like that is working, after all.

0 points
0
0
flackcatcher's picture

January 17, 2021 at 03:08 pm

Special teams is always a depth issue for the roster. Packers are thin at some spots which seems to affect ST. Still, the coaching and performance... I can't explain it. (shakes head)

1 points
1
0
HankScorpio's picture

January 17, 2021 at 03:27 pm

I don't buy the argument that a 13-3 team has bad depth on the bottom of the roster. It's somethng else.

0 points
0
0
flackcatcher's picture

January 18, 2021 at 11:47 am

You got an idea how this team is so mediocre on ST. It comes to down to talent or coaching. Those are the two. I have no other way to explain. If there is something else I like to hear it.

0 points
0
0
davidhoff@mchsi.com's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:54 am

I find myself in agreement with what I have read here today.. I became a fan during the power sweep era and haven't faltered much as time has passed. Our new coach has carried us into a different era of the game and damn, it's exciting. Our team is, now, at the top of their game.
I believe the only team that can defeat the Packers is the Packers. Hear what I say ST.

The Rams have a good team, but they never controlled us on the field or outcoached us on the sidelines. Whoever comes to our house next week will suffer the same fate.

GO PACK GO !!

2 points
2
0
PeteK's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:59 am

Great win with minimal injuries ! I have to mention , those throws at the end of the half scared the #*&% out of me.

4 points
4
0
jhtobias's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:22 pm

Lame Calls - So Called Fans on the site still complaining about things "THE TEAM IS IN THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AGAIN " really your either trolls or just spoiled entitled dolts

Game Balls- Oline Oline Oline - Play like that and you will win ! Coaching staff that never get mentioned : Oline coaches, Secoundary coaches, Mike smith outside linebacker coach, and Jerry Gray ,

Yes special teams is an issue, but coming on here week after week complaining is silly but you folks who do that still complain about the kevin king T.J. watt 4yrs ago !

2 points
2
0
Starrbrite's picture

January 17, 2021 at 12:55 pm

The Rams met the Packers in the western conference championship in 1967 and the Fearsome Foursome was supposed to kick our butts—-but Travis Williams, Bart Starr, and Henry Jordan had other ideas.; so did Arod, Adams, Jones, Alexander, and Clark. Go Packers!!

5 points
5
0
Buckywunder's picture

January 17, 2021 at 01:58 pm

After getting their asses kicked by the Rams two weeks before!

I still remember both games...

3 points
3
0
PyschoDad3's picture

January 17, 2021 at 01:04 pm

Seeing Rogers hit that 4th Qtr. 58 yarder to Lazard off play action for a touchdown brought back all the memories of how Bart Starr did it with the Lombardi Packers back in the day. Remember Boyd Dowler's fingertip catch for a score in the Ice Bowl? Hope Bart was looking down and feeling proud,,,,

7 points
7
0
PatrickGB's picture

January 17, 2021 at 01:13 pm

Everything that I expressed caution about (except special teams) , has been refuted. Maybe I should keep it up?

4 points
4
0
Buckywunder's picture

January 17, 2021 at 01:55 pm

A-Rod’s pump-fake TD should go down in history as his “helicopter spin”...

2 points
3
1
pacman's picture

January 17, 2021 at 02:42 pm

All in all, a great game! One day, Pettine is going to have to explain why he plays soft and lets teams back into the game and then clamps down hard for the win. And once again , Nagler was freaking out at it, as was I and probably many others. Does Pettine not trust his guys or what?
Offense - clicking all around
Defense - improving at the right time and Pettine's job is safe
ST - let's all just keep praying.

1 points
1
0
Stroh's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:58 pm

P Smith has long arms, 34 in, but not really long for someone who stands 6'6.

They do keep that stat for batted passes, Its called a Pass Defensed. You don't know that? Wouldn't be hard to sift through the list to figure out how many DL have as many. The leaders will mostly be DB.

-1 points
0
1
Stroh's picture

January 17, 2021 at 09:59 pm

McCarthy offense was outstanding and some important aspects of it have been copied and are still prominent in the NFL. It simply became time to move on for both parties. 10 yrs seems to be the max shelf life for a HC in any one place. Same was true of Andy Reid

Lafleur offense is on all the rage now, just like McCarthy was 10 yrs ago.

-1 points
0
1
Since'61's picture

January 17, 2021 at 11:03 pm

Game Balls: OL and DL. Both convincingly won their side of the LOS. MLF and the rest of the coaching staff. Of A. Rodgers, all 3 RBs and Lazard and Tonyan. Also, games balls for Gary, the Smiths, Clark, Alexander and Amos.

Lame call: Botched snap on the extra point. Holding call on Wagner?

Bring on the Bucs. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since ‘61

1 points
1
0
RCPackerFan's picture

January 18, 2021 at 05:51 am

Game Balls:
Offense - Basically the entire offense. The OL was terrific. The WR's were terrific (minus a few missed opportunities). The RB's were great. The TE's were great.

Clark - He is a stud!
Smith Bros - Both made a big impact in the game.
Gary - I believe him and Z had 7 pressures each.
Barnes - Unfortunately Barnes broke his thumb, But he was still really good. You could see a difference when he wasn't playing. His leadership is what has made the defense better the final part of the season.
Alexander - He doesn't always get as much love because he doesn't have the interception numbers and whatnot. But there is a reason for that. No one throws to his side.

Lame Calls:
Special Teams - One of the worst things that happened in the game was the botched snap. That sequence ended up getting Crosby hurt. Bradley also had another bad snap on a punt later in the game.

1 points
1
0