Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) — For the second straight year the Green Bay Packers are headed to the NFC Championship game after a 32-18 win over the LA Rams in front of just over 9,000 fans at Lambeau Field.
The scoring opened with both teams exchanging field goals in the 1st quarter. Green Bay then capped off a 14-play, 69-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown toss from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams. The extra point made it 10-3.
But not all PAT’s would be automatic in the game. A muffed snap following a one-yard scoring run by Rodgers resulted in Green Bay going for two from the 15 yard line. Punter JK Scott’s pass to Mason Crosby was complete, but the longtime Packers Kicker fell well short of the goal line.
Crosby also appeared to have injured his shoulder on the play, but did continue to handle kicking duties for the rest of the game. Scott was seen warming up for field goal attempts at halftime as a precaution.
The dagger in the contest may have come on the first play of the second half. With Green Bay leading 19-10 Aaron Jones ripped off a 60-yard run to move the Packers from their own 25 to the Rams’ 15. Five plays later Jones would cap off the drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge.
The Packers did attempt to make up for the missed PAT earlier by going for two following that score but the conversion failed.
Rodgers closed out the scoring with a 58-yard strike to Allen Lazard to make the score 32-18.
Rodgers finished with 296 yards and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Aaron Jones finished the game with 99 yards rushing and one score. Adams and Lazard finished the game with 66 and 96 receiving yards, respectively.
Green Bay’s opponent for the NFC Championship game is unknown at this time. Sunday’s NFC Divisional game features Tampa Bay and New Orleans, with the winner traveling to Lambeau next Sunday.
The last time the Packers qualified for the NFC Championship game in back-to-back years was the 1996-1997 seasons where they defeated Carolina and lost to San Francisco. That was the tail end of a three-year run of appearances in the conference championship. The last NFC title game to be played in Green Bay was in 2007 when the Packers lost to the Giants.
A programming note to go with Green Bay’s participation in the NFC title game- WSAU is unable to carry the live play-by-play due to the NFL’s national radio contract with Westwood One. WSAU will have special pre and post-game coverage from the Packers Radio Network, but not the game itself.
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