Packers deliver statement win v. Rams: What Went Right, What Went Wrong
It was an important game with significant playoff implications. The Green Bay Packers controlled the game from the opening kickoff, winning 36-28 to improve to 9-3 heading into a much-needed bye week.
In front of 78,000 fans and a ceremony for the great Charles Woodson, the Packers put themselves back on track in the NFC race for the number one seed and look to get some key players back following their week off.
Let’s check out what went right in the Green Bay Packers’ big win Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Packers ran the ball early and often.
It wasn’t the eye-popping stats as we sometimes are accustomed to, but when it mattered most, the Packers ran the ball often and efficiently.
The Packers only combined for 92 yards on 30 carries, led by bruiser AJ Dillon who carried the ball 20 times for 69 yards. Coming off an MCL injury, Aaron Jones only had ten carries for 23 yards.
AJ Dillon was once again a man amongst boys, establishing his dominance in short gain after short gain, helping control the clock, and kept the Rams’ defense on the field for almost 40 minutes.
The bye week should help ensure Jones gets back to 100% and is ready for the stretch run to finish the season.
Give a ton of credit to this Packers’ makeshift offensive line.
If you told me at the beginning of the year that this Packer team would be missing three out of the five starters upfront, I would assume they would be looking ahead to draft season rather than the number one seed in the NFC.
A unit consisting of young, somewhat in-experienced players going up against arguably the best front seven in the NFL and holding them to just one sack was quite impressive.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made sure to give credit to the big guys up front, most notably Yosh Nijman and Jon Runyan Jr, after their performance against potential future Hall-of-Famers.
"“I gave him (Nijman) a big hug after the game. I told him I almost forgot about that side of the offensive line and thats a huge compliment because I didn’t have any worries about my backside. I was really proud of them, going up against you know, likely hall of famers and a stud in Floyd who has been at a high level for a decade now.”"
It’s perfectly fair to give credit to head coach Matt LeFleur, but a ton of it should also go to offensive line coach Adam Stenavich. It has been a revolving issue with so many injuries all year long, but this line has held its own and has been good enough to win 9 of their first 12 games.
It was a big win for a team that needs a bye week more than any other team, but not everything went according to plan. Let’s take a look at what went wrong Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Special teams, as it has all season, continue to be an issue.
It seems to be a weekly visit, but the Packers’ special teams, as a whole, continue to struggle.
Mason Crosby, who has struggled all season long, missed another field goal in the fourth quarter Sunday, which would’ve given the Packers a 14-point lead with just over three minutes to play.
Crosby, who was perfect a season ago, has now missed five field goals over the past five games.
The special teams’ issues don’t stop with the field goal unit. The punt return game remains a thorn in the side for this team.
After rookie Amari Rodgers slipped inside the 10-yard line fielding a punt in the first quarter, head coach Matt LaFleur sent Randall Cobb out. The thought behind that decision being Cobb, the veteran, would be a safer option proved to be a mistake as he muffed a punt in the second quarter, which the Rams recovered, turning into three points.
I’m not sure the field goal unit and Crosby ever get it figured out. It just might be time to move on, and with the bye week finally here, the time is now.
The Packers’ bye week is finally here and is more than needed.
The Packers have won 9 out of their first 12 games, and to be honest, with the number of key players missing multiple weeks, this may be Matt LeFleur’s most notable accomplishment yet to date.
Hopefully, the Packers will get some good news throughout the next couple of weeks on injured players as they sit back for the week after a grueling first twelve weeks.