The Packers are suddenly the big brother of the NFL.
The Rams can trade away their future for Von Miller and sign Odell Beckham, Jr. Los Angeles was filled with more stars than a planetarium, but none of that stuff actually matters when it comes to winning ball games.
The Packers bludgeoned the Rams 36-28 on Sunday at Lambeau Field and made a statement to the rest of the NFL: We are the kings atop the NFL mountain.
I know that sounds corny, because as I typed it, I thought it was corny. But it’s true. The Packers are easily the best team in the NFL simply because they can do whatever they want.
“We’ve just got to keep stacking wins and ride this momentum,” said Kenny Clark, who had a great game with six tackles and a sack from the defensive tackle position.
The Packers aren’t supposed to be 9-3 after three starting offensive linemen, a starting cornerback, an edge rusher and a starting tight end were out. But this team has rallied around each other and doesn’t allow excuses to seep in. The NFC West was supposed to be the best division in football and a guy the Packers signed off of Arizona’s practice squad on Oct. 6 has cemented two of those wins and now Green Bay has swept the NFC West.
Rasul Douglas is a guy that is impossible not to love. All he does is give effort whenever he can. Beckham Jr. burned him for a 54-yard touchdown, but that was after Douglas stepped in front of a Matthew Stafford pass intended for Cooper Kupp and galloped 33 yards for a score. “We know that’s his guy,” Douglas said. “We know a lot of balls get thrown to him and he makes a lot of plays.”
That pick six happened with 1:52 left in the third quarter and the always zestful Packers Radio Network play-by-play man Wayne Larrivee gave his signature dagger call.
Another player that needs to be mentioned is Equanimeous St. Brown. He was a special teams ace by racking up three special teams tackles and downed a 61-yard punt at the Rams 1. Don’t forget that St. Brown didn’t make the original 53-man roster this year after getting drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
But Douglas and St. Brown are a microcosm of who the Packers are this year. They just keep finding a way. And those guys are fueling the veterans to heights they never dreamed of. AJ Dillon had 25 touches — including a five-yard touchdown reception. He has been asked to carry the load with Aaron Jones being hobbled by a knee injury so he made the unstoppable Rams defense look like wet cardboard in the second half.
Then there’s Randall Cobb. Looks like Rodgers had a decent idea of being a general manager after all. Cobb had his best game since Week 7 of last year with 95 receiving yards and a touchdown, including a 54-yard reception past the heart of the LA defense.
This team has finally made it to the bye week. But they have already proven that they can win with what they have.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on “Clubhouse Live” and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn