NFC Divisional Playoffs: Rams @ Packers - Saturday, Jan 16th, 3:35PM

[homer]

[OldHeidelberg]

I may be forgetting a game but the last playoff game against the Rams was awful. It was like last years Niner game where I had convinced myself we we were going to win. Donatell had brilliant defensive game plan but Favre was at his playoff worst and Ahman had a killer fumble.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Yes, that was the infamous Favre 6-INT game.

[CheezWizHed]

He was at his worst, but I had a lot of respect for Favre that day. They asked him later why he kept throwing the ball. He said something to the effect of - I'm out there to win and we were behind. Running the ball wasn't going to win the game. The individual numbers (meaning the interceptions) didn't matter...only winning.

[wildcat83]

Sean McVay said he has followed the Packers closely, and that they’re playing extremely well in all 3 phases, that’s why they’re the one seed.

 

Um...WHAT???

 

He clearly just proved he does not watch any special teams film.

[MrTPlush]

The Rams are beating around the bush on who is starting at QB, however I don’t see any way they don’t go Goff. He was healthy enough to play last week so I don’t see any reason it would be any different this week. Rams have no chance winning with some scrub at QB. Goff is the only one who has the ability to perform well enough to lead them to a win this weekend.

[adambr2]

The Rams are beating around the bush on who is starting at QB, however I don’t see any way they don’t go Goff. He was healthy enough to play last week so I don’t see any reason it would be any different this week. Rams have no chance winning with some scrub at QB. Goff is the only one who has the ability to perform well enough to lead them to a win this weekend.

 

Neither Goff nor Woford played any major role in beating Seattle. When we lost to the 49ers in the NFC title game Jimmy G played almost zero role in it. If the Rams are in this game I expect it to be a lot more on the back of their running game and defense, not their QB.

[MrTPlush]

The Rams are beating around the bush on who is starting at QB, however I don’t see any way they don’t go Goff. He was healthy enough to play last week so I don’t see any reason it would be any different this week. Rams have no chance winning with some scrub at QB. Goff is the only one who has the ability to perform well enough to lead them to a win this weekend.

 

Neither Goff nor Woford played any major role in beating Seattle. When we lost to the 49ers in the NFC title game Jimmy G played almost zero role in it. If the Rams are in this game I expect it to be a lot more on the back of their running game and defense, not their QB.

 

You still have to score and I’d guess even with good play from their defense we will put up 24 or so. Their run game isn’t bad...but it really isn’t great either. They will need some decent QB play to put up enough points in my opinion. They aren’t going to rush for 300 yards nor is Rodgers committing 3 turnovers.

 

There really isn’t a reason to not start Goff though, that’s kinda the point. Seems the Rams are just bluffing to add some slight confusion going into the weekend.

[homer]

Spread is like GB -7. I really like Packers' chances unless they lose the TO differential by 2 or more.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Just don't think the Packers will lose in the NFC unless Rodgers has a very bad game. I feel a little bit better about things given that he had such uncharacteristic moments in the first game with Tampa. I just don't see that sort of disaster unfolding again.

 

I do hope that if they do face Tampa, AJ Dillon is part of the plan.

[owbc]

I expect a similar outcome to the Titans game...maybe not 40-14 but the Packers will win by at least 14 with the outcome never really in question after Q1.

[PinaMadness]

Goff won't do anything with that bad thumb, especially in the cold. And who knows how effective Donald is going to be if he plays at all. A rib injury is the worst kind of injury to play through. The only thing that worries me is how well will Turner hold up filling in for Bahk? That will worry me for the rest of the playoffs.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

TBH if the Packers were going to have a catastrophic injury, it couldn't have happened at a better spot. There are far worse scenarios than a backup LT with 50 career starts, not to mention they lost him already for 1/4 of the season and dealt with it.

[CheezWizHed]

TBH if the Packers were going to have a catastrophic injury, it couldn't have happened at a better spot. There are far worse scenarios than a backup LT with 50 career starts, not to mention they lost him already for 1/4 of the season and dealt with it.

 

I think I would've picked our KR instead.

 

This matchup overall is very interesting though. Strength on strength almost across the board.

- Donaldson vs Lindsley (and Jenkins)

- Adams vs. Ramsey

- #1 Offense vs #1 Defense

- Rams 3 CBs against our Pass defense.

 

With a healthy Goff, this could be a toss-up game. But we would really need to lay an egg to lose (probably worse than Seattle did). Goff played, but only completed 9/19 (Wolford 3/6). 25 passes, 38 run plays (not including 5 QB scrambles). It is obvious they were planning on being run-heavy. Unless Goff makes a big recovery this week, I'd expect much of the same.

[HiAndTight]

Goff won't do anything with that bad thumb, especially in the cold. And who knows how effective Donald is going to be if he plays at all. A rib injury is the worst kind of injury to play through. The only thing that worries me is how well will Turner hold up filling in for Bahk? That will worry me for the rest of the playoffs.

 

I wonder if the Packers just go with Veldheer now. I'm not sure how this is going to work out, but he knows the system and he's a better player. Certainly a better tackle.

 

But as OldSchool alluded to, we're pretty well set on the OL. Whatever they're doing, they're obviously coached VERY well and their play calling seems designed to keep the other teams pass rushers from just rushing upfield every play.

 

The worst-case scenario IMO would be the Packers get down by a couple of scores early. That would play right into the Rams hands.

[HiAndTight]

TBH if the Packers were going to have a catastrophic injury, it couldn't have happened at a better spot. There are far worse scenarios than a backup LT with 50 career starts, not to mention they lost him already for 1/4 of the season and dealt with it.

 

I think I would've picked our KR instead.

 

This matchup overall is very interesting though. Strength on strength almost across the board.

- Donaldson vs Lindsley (and Jenkins)

- Adams vs. Ramsey

- #1 Offense vs #1 Defense

- Rams 3 CBs against our Pass defense.

 

With a healthy Goff, this could be a toss-up game. But we would really need to lay an egg to lose (probably worse than Seattle did). Goff played, but only completed 9/19 (Wolford 3/6). 25 passes, 38 run plays (not including 5 QB scrambles). It is obvious they were planning on being run-heavy. Unless Goff makes a big recovery this week, I'd expect much of the same.

 

[sarcasm]I'm not too worried about Josh Donaldson rushing the QB[/sarcasm], but if they line up that Donald guy over Turner or whoever is playing RG, THAT could be a problem!

 

But you're right, this is strength on strength. And while the 49'ers may have been able to beat us without much from their QB, I don't think Geoff will be able to. Not hurt and not in the cold. The best he's likely going to be able to do is throw a lot of short passes to their three really talented WR'ers and hope they can do something after the catch.

 

Very similar offenses so I'd expect a lot of those quick hitters....and I feel really good about Jaire, Sullivan, and King's ability to play those at this point in the season. All three are really playing physical, not to mention Amos and Savage.

 

 

As long as this team comes out with the defensive mindset they did the last quarter of the season...everyone flying to the ball, the really solid tackling, the DL staying in their lanes and not trying to jump inside to get into the backfield, the OLB'ers really keeping the edge...if that happens, it'd take a bad game from Rodgers. I'm not gonna bet on a bad game from #12.

 

 

I think this game will end up looking most like the Bears vs Packers game in the NFCCG where it was a close game, but we controlled the game and they were never really in danger of losing. Maybe we'll score a little more in this game, but I think it'll be a largely unremarkable game that we just kinda control.

[brewcrewdue80]

We're in another fortunate game this year where the opponents best won't be 100% or playing this season. Goff hurt, Donald hurt this game should be a laugher much like SF laughed at us last season hosting at home. We're better than them straight up. Sounds to me like Tonyan should be targeted more so likely a few rollouts. Adams if he is any thing like he was vs the Titans will still feast Ramsay or not. Our LBs are healthy to negate the rushing and keep it to a minimum. Green Bay all the way.

[HiAndTight]

We're in another fortunate game this year where the opponents best won't be 100% or playing this season. Goff hurt, Donald hurt this game should be a laugher much like SF laughed at us last season hosting at home. We're better than them straight up. Sounds to me like Tonyan should be targeted more so likely a few rollouts. Adams if he is any thing like he was vs the Titans will still feast Ramsay or not. Our LBs are healthy to negate the rushing and keep it to a minimum. Green Bay all the way.

 

 

I think you're setting yourself up for a disappointment if you expect us to beat anyone in the playoffs as the 49'ers beat us last year.

[adambr2]

Surprised at the lack of respect for the Rams. I do think we'll win but they have the exact kind of team that usually gives us fits. They can bring pressure on the QB, and with one of the best corners in the game on Adams we'll need contributions from guys like Tonyan and MVS. I wouldn't go into this game counting on Donald to be totally neutralized by his injury -- he's a competitor and adrenaline will go a long ways toward overcoming pain.

 

Their running game is better than the stats show. Forget the season stats, the last month or so they've completely committed to Akers and it's been an entirely different ground game than earlier in the season.

 

They're a well-coached, battle tested team with 5 wins over playoff teams and a very close loss in Buffalo. They haven't embarrassed themselves in any game this season and I see no reason to believe they will on Saturday.

 

28-23 Packers

[young guns]

They haven't embarrassed themselves in any game this season

They lost to the jets.

[MrTPlush]

The Rams entire resume is about as pathetic as it gets. Washington and the Bears are probably the only teams that could manage a worse resume. The Rams beat Tampa Bay in November and also beat the Seahawks 2/3 times...that is it. Their schedule this year had to be one of the weakest in the NFL.

 

They may have a good defense, but their trash schedule probably pad the stats a bit.

[adambr2]

The Rams entire resume is about as pathetic as it gets. Washington and the Bears are probably the only teams that could manage a worse resume. The Rams beat Tampa Bay in November and also beat the Seahawks 2/3 times...that is it. Their schedule this year had to be one of the weakest in the NFL.

 

They may have a good defense, but their trash schedule probably pad the stats a bit.

 

The Rams literally had the toughest strength of schedule of any NFC playoff team and the best strength of victory of any team in the NFC and 3rd best in the entire NFL.

[HiAndTight]

They haven't embarrassed themselves in any game this season

They lost to the jets.

 

 

That's true...but I think the larger point remains. They're a really solid team. I hope we blow them out though.

[adambr2]

They haven't embarrassed themselves in any game this season

They lost to the jets.

 

I'll rephrase then -- they haven't been blown out this season.

 

I am not sure why anyone believes they've played a cupcake schedule because that just isn't true at all. Buffalo is a solid team. Miami is a solid team. The AFC North is quite similar to our schedule against the South. Probably slightly better. Their division is quite clearly better than the NFC North despite the 49ers being down this year. To downplay beating Seattle twice and Tampa once is just...silly (not by you.) Those are 3 real quality wins. We don't have 3 wins against 11-5/12-4 teams on our resume.

 

The Rams have played a tough schedule. Anyone suggesting otherwise isn't really doing any research. No one gets 16 games against playoff teams -- everyone is going to have a few daisies along the way.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I thought early on that the Rams were the best team in the NFC West once San Fran's injuries mounted beyond the point of any NFL roster being able to manage, and that's proven to be true. They are capable of beating the Packers simply because their defense is capable of wrecking the offense for Green Bay if the Packers can't take advantage of matchups with pass catchers beyond Adams, which would make the game a tossup.

 

I think Adams still gets his but doesn't have a huge day with Ramsey on him, but Tonyan, Lazard, and RBs out of the backfield could have a field day if the Oline plays well.