The Green Bay Packers will host the NFC championship game next Sunday, after beating the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday with 14 points at Lambeau Field.
The victory was an impressive performance by Matt LaFleur’s team, which requires a deeper examination.
We break down how and why the Packers win 32-18 over the Rams:
Running over a trend
AP Photo / Jeffrey Phelps
The Rams have played as easily in boxing against the race as any NFL team this season, believing that their defensive front is good enough to disrupt the race, while allowing more resources to defend the passing game. For much of the year, the plan worked. On Saturday, the Packers took advantage. Running inside the area concepts for much of the game, the Packers rushed 32 times for 191 yards with Aaron Jones (14 for 99), Jamaal Williams (12 for 66) and AJ Dillon (6 for 27), attacking the number 1 of Rams. placed the defense in obedience. The Packers’ offensive line set the tone early and controlled the game from start to finish. Defender Aaron Rodgers and caller Matt LaFleur happily led football when Rams’ defense played its identity. The Rams hadn’t given up more than 136 rushing yards in a game all season. The Packers finished 188 on Saturday.
The step speeds up the heat
Green Bay Packers Rashan Gary, 52, fires Jared Goff (16) in the Los Angeles Rams quarterback in the third quarter during the NFL divisional game on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Rams defender Jared Goff played well in places, but the Packers step eventually took over the game. Conformable Next generation statistics, Packers pressed Goff with 48.4% behind him, with a maximum season. Goff took four sacks, and Rashan Gary and Za’Darius Smith both had seven total pressures. The bags also came in large places. Gary forced a shot with a sack from the third in the first half, and he ended the game with a sack on the fourth at the end of the quarter. On the other two units with sacks, the Rams finally scored, including once in the fourth quarter down seven points and on the occasion of tying the game. Goff finished with only 148 meters of passage, including the 26 meters lost through the sacks.
Situationally dominant crime
Aaron Rodgers (12), Green Bay Packers defender, celebrates after battling for a second-quarter touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the playoff division game on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
The Packers finished the regular season in second place in the NFL, turning third downs and first in touchdowns in the red zone. Once again, the offense was dominant in the two big game situations. The Packers turned downs from 8 to 12 and recorded touchdowns in three trips to the red zone. The conversion of the third descent led to 72 total games and over 36 minutes of possession. Marking touchdowns inside the 20-yard line meant another 30-point game. On the defensive side, the Packers kept the Rams on just two conversions on nine occasions on the third and fourth down.
No big mistakes
Dan Powers-USA NETWORK TODAY
The Packers flirted with a few costly errors, including an extra wrong point, two interceptable passes from Aaron Rodgers at the end of the first half, a touchdown pass from Allen Lazard and a header from rookie AJ Dillon, but the only big mistake was not never happened. Hunter Bradley’s curling free kick almost found the goal for Mason Crosby, but the visitors’ keeper somehow managed to get ahold of it. The Packers scored on the field after the two interceptions gave up, Lazard repaired with a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Rodgers was in the right place at the right time to recover from the stuttering after the wrong exchange with Dillon. Aries needed a meal or two to stand a chance. Packers have reached zero turnovers.
Contains decision makers
Cam Akers (23), striker in the Los Angeles Rams, is approached by the Green Bay Packers, outside the defender Preston Smith (91), in the first quarter of the game of the NFC division of the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, January 16, 2021 , at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Without Cooper Kupp (idle, kneeling) and facing the NFL’s highest scoring offense, the Rams needed a huge afternoon from defender Cam Akers and receiver Robert Woods to keep up with the Packers. on the scoreboard. Akers was productive, but hardly a real difference, and Woods didn’t have much of an impact. Akers rushed for 90 yards, scored a touchdown and converted a two-point conversion, but the Rams needed more. Probably much more. Woods caught eight passes for just 48 yards, with a catch just 10 yards long. In general, the Rams had a single play of over 20 meters. Without consistent production from Akers and Woods or any major tracks, Rams produced only three scoring records.
Domination of the fourth quarter
Allen Lazard, of the Green Bay Packers, celebrates after a 58-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL divisional football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, January 16, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (Photo by AP / Matt Ludtke)
The Rams won by seven points at the end of the third quarter and actually had football in the fourth quarter with a chance to draw the game. From there, however, the Packers took control. The defense stopped, forcing a point with 9:53 left, and the offense ran 73 meters in just five games to score what turned out to be the final touchdown of the game on a 58-meter pass from Aaron Rodgers to Allen Lazard. After the score, the Packers forced a turnover down with a sack from Rashan Gary on the fourth down. Up 14 and back in possession, the Packers offense killed the remaining 4:59 on the clock and knelt three times in the Rams red zone to close it. The final was a dominant one of Matt LaFleur’s team. The Rams won just 30 yards on 14 games in the fourth quarter, while the Packers produced 113 yards and only points in the quarter.
Secondary targets intensify in the passing game
Green Bay Packers player Tony Tonyan (85 years old) against Los Angeles Rams player Jalen Ramsey (20 years old) received a half in the second half during the divisional game on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
The Rams kept Davante Adams just 66 yards out on nine catches, a commendable effort even though he found the final area in a beautiful play from the 1 yard line in the second quarter. The packers kept the ball moving in the air with secondary targets. Allen Lazard caught four passes for 96 meters, including the 58-meter touchdown. His numbers would have looked even better if he had been transported in a possible touchdown in the third quarter. Robert Tonyan caught all four targets for 60 yards, including a 33-yarder in the first half who set a field goal before the half. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a crucial conversion in the third row before touching Lazard. And Equanimeous St. Brown had a catch of 27 yards in a free kick that set the opening goal. Together, the four combined for 13 catches, 216 meters and a single touchdown.
Protective wall
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) all smiles as he approaches the scrimmage line to lower the ball to end the game and win a victory over the Los Angeles Rams during their division playoff game. NFL Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Even without Pro Bowl left-back David Bowhtiari, the Packers didn’t allow a single bag for a team that finished the regular season with the NFL in second place. In fact, Rodgers was hit once the entire game, despite falling back to pass 36 times. Aaron Donald (13.5 bags) and Leonard Floyd (10.5 bags) had four total attacks and zero defender shots. As it was all season, Rodgers was surgically out of clean pockets. Defender Packers said the offensive line on the line is “stellar”. Saturday night was the fifth time Rodgers has not been fired in a game this season. The Packers averaged 36.2 points per game in those five games.
Other factors to know
– The Packers greeted 8,456 fans at Lambeau Field and made a bit of noise, which was visible even through the television broadcast. Each player said he made a difference. It’s hard not to gain some energy from the first crowd at home of the year.
– Packers scored in the first five offensive possessions, putting immense pressure on the Rams. Back-to-back touchdowns in the first half produced a 16-3 advantage, and the Packers scored nine points on possessions before and after the half to go up 25-10.
– The packers had only three penalties for 22 meters. One was an extremely questionable penalty on Rick Wagner. Matt LaFleur’s team played a clean game overall.
– Corner Jaire Alexander only allowed one catch in his cover, according to Next Gen Statistics.
– Kenny Clark, the defensive lineman, has finally seen all his good results in the score. It was in two different bags.