So, how’s that number one offense versus number defense debate looking now?
The Green Bay Packers overwhelmed the Los Angeles Rams 32-18 before nearly 9000 fans at last at Lambeau Field to advance to next week’s NFC Championship Game which will return to the tundra next Sunday. The Packers piled up 484 yards against the NFL’s best defense during the regular season, scoring points on each of their first five possessions and then after the Rams closed to 25-18, Aaron Rodgers hit Allen Lazard off play action for a 58 yard touchdown with just under seven minutes to play that sealed the Divisional Round victory.
This was far more than the presumptive MVP passing for 296 yards and two scores on the night, his first was a flashy one yard strike to a double-motioning Davante Adams. The All-Pro receiver would finish with 9 receptions for 66 yards. Aaron Jones piled up 99 yards rushing and his one yard touchdown was the reward for ripping off a 60 yard scamper on the first snap of the third quarter. Against a defense that ranked first in points allowed (18.3), first in total yards allowed (291) and first in passing yards allowed (190), the Packers dominated because the five offensive linemen completely controlled the line of scrimmage. Billy Turner, Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsely, Lucas Patrick and Rick Wagner collectively had a fantastic game fashioned with an expertly balanced game plan from Head Coach Matt LaFleur. 36 rushes for 188 yards evenly matched with 36 pass attempts with 23 completions. A 5.2 yards per carry average and nary a sack when Rodgers dropped back to throw. Granted, Aaron Donald was somewhat limited by a rib injury suffered last week but the likely defensive player of the year was held to just one assisted tackle. His frustration was evident early as he got into a skirmish with Jenkins on Green Bay’s second series. The two went face to face and Donald yanked Jenkins’ facemask drawing a 15 yard penalty on what would have been a third and 7 call for the Pack. Holes were opened against the penetrating front and all three backs ran with explosion. Jamaal Williams hammered out 65 yards on 12 carries and A.J. Dillon had 6 rushes for 27 yards. Rodgers had to move around the pocket on a couple of occasions but was always able to release the ball unscathed. It was a magnificent performance up front.
Green Bay struck first after the defense forced a three and out but the opening drive stalled after having it first and goal at the four. Mason Crosby connected on the 24 yard field goal for the 3-0 lead.
The Rams answered with Jared Goff making two fine throws over the middle to Josh Reynolds for 28 and Robert Woods for 19. Lined up to go for it on 4th and 1 at the 14, a false start penalty brought out the field goal team and Matt Gay hit from 37 to get the game even. Goff, playing with a broken thumb that required surgery just three weeks ago, played well, completing 21 of 27 passes for 174 yards but the 28 yarder was his longest of the night.
The Adams touchdown early in the second put Green Bay up 10-3, capping a 14 play, 84 yard drive that consumed 7:59. Another three and out thanks to a Za’Darius Smith sack of Goff, the first of four on the night, and a special teams penalty gave the Packers great field position at the Rams 47. The would cash in with Rodgers running for a one yard touchdown that included a masterful pump fake on Leonard Floyd that allowed him to reach the pylon. The lead stayed at 16-3 when the point after attempt was botched with a bad snap and hold. J.K. Scott then tried a shovel pass to Mason Crosby who got hit hard and injured his shoulder on the play.
The Rams responded with a 75 yard drive capped by a four yard TD pass from Goff to Van Jefferson to make it 16-10 with only :29 left in the half.
But Rodgers found Adams for 21 and Robert Tonyan for 33 yards to reach the LA 21 in a flash. An end zone throw on first down was nearly intercepted by Tony Hill and after two more incomplete shots, Crosby, bad shoulder and all, booted a 39 yard field on the final play of the half to give the Packers a 19-10 lead at intermission.
Remember the Detroit Lions game back in September where Aaron Jones ripped off a 75 yard TD on the first snap of the third quarter? It happened again when Jones burst through the middle, cut to his left and sprinted 60 yards on the opening play. He capped the drive with a one yard touchdown to make it 25-10. The Packers tried, but failed on a two point conversion.
A sack by Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark thwarted the next LA possession and the Packers could have put the game away with three long deep balls. The first to a wide open Marquez Valdes-Scantling was overthrown by Rodgers, the second was dropped by Lazard and one more shot to MVS was broken up deep by Darious Williams.
The Rams last gasp was an 11 play, 79 yard march culminated by Cam Akers taking a wildcat snap and fighting hard for a 7 yard touchdown. Goff then threw a slant to Jefferson who lateraled to Akers for a cute two point conversion making it a one score game.
Both defenses got stops into the 4th quarter and the Packers took over at their 27 with MVS converting a key third and 3 by reaching for the sticks on the sideline. Reaching the 42, Rodgers pulled off a perfect play action fake as Lazard sprinted between Tony Hill and Jordan Fuller who bit and the pass was cradled by Lazard at about the 20 and he raced in for the game sealing touchdown.
The Rams were able to reach midfield in the waning minutes but on 4th and 13, Gary and Clark combined for one last sack of Goff and the Packers ran out the final 5 minutes.
Among some other lopsided numbers were Green Bay’s huge time of possession advantage, 36:12 to 23:48, 28-17 first downs and on third down, Green Bay converted 8-12 and the 12th was a Rodgers kneel down at the end, while the Rams were just 2 of 8.
Two injuries of note, linebacker Krys Barnes left in the first half with a thumb injury and came back for the second half with his left hand wrapped in a big club. He still wound up with a team high 10 tackles and might have had an interception if not for the club. Crosby was in obvious pain with that shoulder injury and at halftime, Scott came out early and took some practice field goal swings but Mason was able to kick off and he calmly knocked through the final extra point.
A big factor was a small but extremely enthusiastic crowd. 6000 season ticket holders purchased tickets and along with team employees, health care workers an first responders invited back, there were 8,456 people scattered all the way around the bowl. At times, it sounded like a full house of nearly 80,000. The players all commented on how much energy they brought to the game. Large placard signs were handed out to the fans and in the second half, they used those signs as noisemakers, pounding them on the aluminum benches creating a joyous ruckus.
That’s where Matt LaFleur had to start with his post game press conference.
And for the first time since becoming the starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who endured 4 prior NFC title games on the road, winning his first in Chicago in 2010, will finally get what he wanted most, one on the tundra.
Rodgers passed Brett Favre with the most completions and passing yards in Packer playoff history. Adams became the team’s all time playoff leader in receiving yards. As a team, Green Bay has now scored 1487 points in playoff games, passing Pittsburgh for the most in NFL history.
Time for a little more history next week.
