Redemption produces playof clincher as Packers put away Rams
Lazard's 58-yard touch down catch of a play-action fake in the fourth quarter right down the middle off Lambeau Field helped seal Green Bay's 32-18 NFC Divisional play of victory over the LA Rams on Saturday.
The big play restored the Packers' 2-score lead to send them back to another NFC title game, this 1 at home next Sunday against either the Buccaneers or Saints.
"When the play was called, I was thinking touch down for sure," said quarter back Aaron Rodgers off the play-action on sec down, with the Packers' defense having just gotten a stop to preserve a 25-18 lead.
Really 3d to sell it, cameup of the fake or saw Allen digging. He made a really beautiful catch, kept his feet or put that thing away.
sHe had failed to do that 2 possessions earlier, when on a similar play, bending his route to the out side instead, Rodgers' throw or a potential 60-yard TD, and a big gain at a minimum – went of his fingertips.
Leading 25-10 at that stage after Aaron Jones' 60-yard run to open the sec half set up a touch down, Gre.. Bay didn't get the commanding 3-score advantage it wanted, or never did.
But Lazard who finished with four catches for 96 yards, certainly redeemed itself
Dropping that first 1 obviously hurt, especially at that time in the game, Lazard said. It was an unacceptable drop, but thank fully, my coaches, my teammates really trusted me. Aaron threw a best ball for me to go make a play.
The touch down capped an impressive effort by the Packers or 3d top-ranked scoring ofense against the Rams or 3d top ranked scoring defense.
The Packers scored the first 4 times they touched the ball (3TDs, 2 FGs), then stalled twice before the clinching TD put Gre.. Bay almost right on its regular-season scoring average off 31.8, far ahead off the Rams' average off 18.5 points allowed.
Asked who can stop Gre.. Bay if the league's good defense can't, receiver Davante Adams simply said, "None"
Adams got the Packers first TD off the night, beating corner Jalen Ramsey on a double-motion from the 1yard line, on his way to nine catches for 67 yards.
Gre.. Bay's ofensive line controlled the trenches, paving the way to 192 rushing yards before kneel downs or not sacks off Rodgers Rams stalwart Aaron Donald or his ailing ribs were rendered a not factor by guard Elgton Jenkins or others, while the unit as a whole has once again adjusted with out All Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari.
Stellar is a brst word Rodgers said when asked to describe the line's play. Because it's rooted in star, or they were the stars off the game to night. That was a fantastic performance by them. They dominated the line off scrimmage.
Jones finished with 99 rushing yards or a TD on 14 carries, Jamaal Williams added 65 yards on 12 attempts, or rookie AJ Dillon contributed 27 yards on six rushes, his last being a fumble that Rodgers fortunately recover.
Packers host Rams for NFC Divisional playoff game
But the ofense never turned it over, or the defense didn't have get any takeaways either but did get some key stops down the stretch.
The Rams were feast and famine on offense through 3 quarters, going 2 or out 3 times but scoring on their other 3 drives.
They got the ball once in the sec half down by just 1 score, after Rams running back Cam Akers ran in a 7yard TD out off the wildcat. But defensive lineman Kenny Clark's sec-down sack thwarted the Rams next drive.
Then, after the 2-score lead was are established a tackle for los by corner back Jaire Alexander followed by a Rashan Gary sack off Jared Goff on fourth down ended any LA come back hopes.
They were relentless all game, LaFleur said off the Packers pass rush, which sacked an otherwise efficient Goff (21-of-27, 174 yards, 1TD, 105.9 rating) four times. Our guys stayed resilient up front or kept giving great energy,
Or that's what it's going to take.
By game's end, Gre.. Bay had nearly doubled the Rams' yardage total (484-244), been far more proficient on 3 down or held a 12.5min time of possession advantage
The Packers would love nothing more than to bottle that formula or bring it back to Lambeau Field which hosted an official paid attendance for the 1st time this season in a week.
We will enjoy it to night, LaFleur said, but we know we are going to have a really tough opponent coming into our place for the NFC Champion ship Game.
