The Green Bay Packers came away with an impressive win over the Los Angeles Rams in a game that carried some major playoff implications in regards to seeding.
As we always do following each Packers game, it’s time to go Behind the Numbers to take a look at the stats and figures that defined Green Bay’s performance.
19
It wasn’t perfect by any means, but this Green Bay Packers offensive line held up well against a very stout Rams defensive front. LA entered the game ranked second in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric and first in run stop win rate.
While Green Bay was credited with allowing 19 pressures, according to PFF, there really wasn’t anything egregious. Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers both did a fine job of providing this unit with some help by leaning on the run game, utilizing motion, and plenty of quick passes–26 to be exact.
“The offensive line was fantastic,” Rodgers said via Packers.com. “One phantom sack, the gift I gave my workout buddy Greg Gaines with the zero-yard sack on the scramble. I thought they did a nice job. I thought we mixed it up with the quick game, getting the ball out of my hand.”
30
The key to this game was establishing and sticking to the run game. Running the ball was never going to be easy against this front, but had Green Bay abandoned the run game and became one-dimensional, this could have turned ugly.
Despite averaging only 2.9 yards per carry as a team, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon still had 30 carries between them–and playing with a lead late in the game did help. But by leaning on the rushing attack consistently througout the game, it helped the offensive line by allowing them to be the aggressor, and although ripping off big runs certainly helps, it’s not a requirement to make the defense respect the run game–they just have to believe that you’re willing to run the ball in a given situation and it can open up the passing game.
19
Well, having Rashan Gary back was certainly a big boost for this defense. With Gary back in the mix, we didn’t see Joe Barry send blitzes like he did a week ago against Minnesota, which allowed for more defenders to help against the pass.
When it was all said and done, Green Bay tallied 19 pressures, with Gary, Preston Smith, and Kenny Clark accounting for a majority of them. We did, however, see the lack of depth at the edge position exposed a bit–when neither Smith nor Gary were on the field, the Packers didn’t generate much of a push.
39:40
The Green Bay Packers absolutely dominated the time of possession, controlling the ball for 39:40 while the Rams had possession for just 20:20. Running the ball 30 times certainly helped, as did the quick passes, which created long drives, even if it didn’t always end in points. Not to mention that on defense, three turnovers and holding the Rams to just 4/14 on third and fourth downs put the ball back in the offense’s hands rather quickly.
20
The Green Bay Packers scored 36 points, they won by eight, and 20 of their total points came from some form of a turnover. The strip-sack by Gary would lead to seven points for the offense. On the Rams’ following drive, a fourth-down stop by Adrian Amos would result in a field goal. In the second half, Rasul Douglas would return an interception for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery on a punt led to three more points.
While missed turnover opportunities a week ago may have cost Green Bay the game, this week, it was one of the big reasons that they won.
8
Davante Adams still did Davante Adams-like things on Sunday, posting a casual eight receptions for 104 yards, but just about everyone else got in on the passing game as well. In total, nine different Packers players were targeted, and eight of them had at least one reception, with four of them having at least four pass catches.
Rodgers did a really nice job of spreading the ball around and taking what the defense was giving him.
3.4
In an effort to limit this Rams passing attack, Green Bay went heavy with the lightboxes once again–basically, they were daring LA to run the ball. However, despite the lack of bodies near the line of scrimmage, this Packers defensive front did a terrific job of limiting the Rams’ ground game.
As a team, LA would average only 3.4 yards per rush and 68 total yards, with their longest run of the day being just seven yards. When the run defense is playing this well with lightboxes, it makes defending the pass much easier.
“I just think the front seven as a whole with DC (De’Vondre Campbell), Krys (Barnes), they just did a really good job at filling the holes and bringing those double-teams off of us after they got done with their work,” said defensive lineman Kenny Clark via Packers.com. “I think the front seven played a really good game, in the run game.”
133 of 302
Against Arizona, Kansas City, and Seattle, the Green Bay defense went all-in on limiting the passing attacks of these teams by going really heavy with lightboxes–and it worked. After providing more help against Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota run game a week ago, the defense’s main focus was limiting the Rams passing game.
Although Matthew Stafford’s final line of 21/38 for 302 yards and three touchdowns was fine, 133 of those yards came on two completions where the receivers were able to get behind the Green Bay safeties–something that hasn’t happened often this season.
But overall, this secondary did a very good job of containing this Rams offense. For much of the game, moving the ball through the air was a chore for the LA offense.
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Born and raised in Green Bay, WI and I still call it home. After my family, watching the Packers, sharing my opinions on the team through my writing and interacting with other fans is my greatest passion. You can find me on Twitter at @Paul_Bretl.
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