Packers Stump Rams

The Green Bay Packers fought their way back to the win column in Week 12, as they defeated Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 36-28. Rodgers is dealing with a fractured toe, and many wondered how he would fare this Sunday in the frozen tundra coming off of a loss. While he was walking around gingerly in the second half, he still completed 28 of 45 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. 

Stafford was playing hurt, too, as he’s reportedly dealing with pain in his throwing arm, elbow, a sore ankle and back pain. He looked off from beginning to end, but still completed 21 of 38 passes for 302 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Odell Beckham Jr. finally got going for his new team, as he caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. The Rams pulled within 11 points with his touchdown in the fourth quarter and added a field goal in the waning seconds, but it was too little too late by then.

Aaron Jones was active for the Packers after missing last week with a knee injury, but A.J. Dillon was RB1 on Sunday. He rushed 20 times for 69 yards and caught five passes for 21 yards and one touchdown. Green Bay’s receivers had a big day as well, as Randall Cobb caught four passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in just the first half before exiting the game with a groin injury, and Davante Adams caught eight passes for 104 yards. This was a measuring stick game for both clubs, and the Packers were able to prove that they are the superior team in the NFC.

Let’s take a deep dive into what went down in Green Bay on Sunday:

The Packers are one of the best teams in the NFL and they proved it on Sunday. Everyone knows about this offense, as Rodgers, Adams and Jones provide a formidable triple threat. There’s more to this group, though. Dillon is clearly coming into his own, and his tough running in the fourth quarter allowed Green Bay to milk the clock. Rodgers connected with eight different receivers, as Marquez Valdes-Scantling showed his skill as a deep-ball threat and even Equanimeous St. Brown had a clutch third-down conversion midway through the fourth quarter.

The defense deserves plenty of credit for Sunday’s outcome as well, as they forced three turnovers. Members of the secondary clamped down on receivers and the front four applied pressure to Stafford all game. Cornerback Rasul Douglas had a monster outing, as he recorded a pick six and four passes defensed. Not everything went according to plan, but this team jumped out to a quick lead and defended it until the final whistle.

On Sunday morning, ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported that Stafford is dealing with pain in his throwing arm, his elbow, a sore ankle and chronic back pain. There was no question if he was going to play, as he was not listed on the injury report this week, but he was banged up. While Stafford hasn’t played great during this three-game losing streak, he was noticeably off on Sunday. That has to be worrisome for the Rams as we prepare for the final stretch. You can’t blame the entire loss on Stafford, however. The Rams gifting the Packers with two possessions within L.A.’s 30-yard line in the first quarter allowed the Packers to jump out to a 10-point lead, and then the defense could have held Green Bay to less than 36 points. That’s the most points Green Bay has scored in a single game all year.