In typical Green Bay Packers fashion, a halftime deficit turned into a third-quarter lead, which turned into a fourth-quarter prayer in their Week 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. Holding on for a 24-19 road victory, Green Bay was able to get back to their winning ways after losing last week.
There were plenty of issues on both sides of the ball in their Week 5 win, but both the offense and defense did just enough to send Matthew Stafford and company to their fourth loss in five games. With the win, head coach Matt LaFleur recorded his fifth win (in five tries) against Sean McVay, and he was also able to beat his brother Mike LaFleur, who is currently the offensive coordinator for the Rams.
Offense
Only needing 26 passing attempts from Jordan Love was a pleasant sign for the play-calling balance for the Packers. Attempting 26 passes and rushing the ball 30 times paints a healthy picture for how the game script went Green Bay’s way.
Love threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns (both to Tucker Kraft), but a really puzzling decision resulted in a pick-six that helped get the Rams back in the game. Rolling to his right and backed up in his own end zone, Love was falling down and threw an ill-advised pass, intercepted right outside the end zone and returned for six.
Josh Jacobs found the end zone for the first time as a Packer, converting a short carry for a score. Jacobs earned 20 touches (19 carries) for 94 total yards, with 73 coming on the ground. Kraft (4/88/2) and Jayden Reed (six touches for 97 total yards) helped pace the Packers elsewhere on offense.
Kraft took a pass from Love 66 yards to the house to kick off the second-half scoring, and he found the end zone again later in that quarter on a seven-yard screen pass for a score. Reed hauled in a beautiful 53-yard pass from Love to set up Jacobs’ TD, beating three Rams defenders and hauling in a deep ball that was perfectly placed.
Defense
Sunday’s win marked the fifth game for safety Xavier McKinney in a Packers uniform, and it also marked the fifth-consecutive game that McKinney has recorded an interception with Green Bay. intercepting Matthew Stafford on an overthrown ball helped lead to a TD, as his pick jumpstarted the Green Bay drive that resulted in Kraft’s second TD.
Another game of forcing at least two turnovers for Green Bay has Jeff Hafley’s unit out to a strong start. Edgerrin Cooper (1), Preston Smith (1/2), and Karl Brooks (1.5) all recorded sacks of Stafford in the win, and both Cooper and rookie safety Evan Williams combined to stop the Rams on their final fourth down of the game, sealing the win.
Williams led the defense in tackles (10) and tied with McKinney for the most pass breakups (2), while Karl Brooks, Kenny Clark, and Cooper each recorded multiple QB hits in the win.
Week 6 sees Green Bay head back to home to Lambeau Field, as they host the Arizona Cardinals, who just went into San Francisco and upset the 49ers.
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Mike Johrendt has been an avid fan of the Packers ever since he can remember. He is now a writer at PackersTalk and you can follow him on Twitter at @MJohrendt23
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