Live Updates: Packers vs. Rams

The Green Bay Packers (5-8) will try to keep their playoff hopes alive when they host the Los Angeles Rams (4-9) on “Monday Night Football.” Follow along for updates.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Dec 19, 2022 11:18 PM EST
Original:
Dec 19, 2022

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers (5-8) are hosting the Los Angeles Rams (4-9) on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field. Follow along all night for updates as the Packers try to stay in the playoff race.

Final Score

Packers 24, Rams 12

Here's the game story, including the game ball and NFC playoff update.

Fourth Quarter

Packers 24, Rams 12 (8:51 remaining)

Pass interference on Adrian Amos against Tutu Atwell gave the Rams 40 yards to the Packers’ 41. But the defense rose up. Preston Smith had a sack on first down and Kenny Clark had a big pressure on third-and-16.

Packers 24, Rams 12 (10:55 remaining)

With AJ Dillon being evaluated for a concussion, Aaron Jones shot through a hole for 13 – his longest run of the night – but was stripped by Jalen Ramsey, who recovered for a huge turnover. It’s Rams ball at the 15.

Packers 24, Rams 12 (11:53 remaining)

Green Bay’s defensive line has risen to the occasion. First, rookie Devonte Wyatt stopped Cam Akers for 0. On second down, Wyatt and outside linebacker Justin Hollins wrecked a bootleg and combined for a sack. On third-and-13, Kenny Clark split a double team, overpowered right tackle Rob Havenstein and forced an errant throw that was intercepted by Rasul Douglas. Douglas foolishly lateraled the ball to Adrian Amos, a decision that resulted in a loss of 12 yards, but it’s Packers ball at the 34.

Packers 24, Rams 12 (13:13 remaining)

Keisean Nixon’s 52-yard kickoff return set up the offense on the Rams’ 47 but the Packers failed to take advantage. On third-and-10 from the 35, Leonard Floyd raced past right tackle Yosh Nijman for his second sack of the night.

Third Quarter

Packers 24, Rams 12 (22 seconds remaining)

The Rams are right back in the game on Baker Mayfield’s 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee on third-and-goal. Matt Gay was wide right on the extra point. Cam Akers had an 18-yard catch on a screen and a 19-yard run.

Packers 24, Rams 6 (2:31 remaining)

Christian Watson scored eight touchdowns the last four weeks. He doesn’t have any tonight but he delivered a masterful block on Aaron Jones’ 7-yard touchdown run. Aaron Rodgers fired the ball into the flat to Jones, who caught the ball on the move and scored as Watson drove cornerback Cobie Durant to the sideline and the turf.

Packers 17, Rams 6 (5:33 remaining)

The Packers have a chance to stomp on the gas. On first down, Quay Walker’s 100th tackle of the season was for minus-2. On second down, Jarran Reed drew a hold. The Rams punted, Keisean Nixon fielded the ball on the hop and returned it for 17 yards and 15 more were tacked on via a facemask. The Packers are setting up shop at the Rams’ 35.

Packers 17, Rams 6 (8:04 remaining)

AJ Dillon scored his second touchdown of the night, a 1-yard run behind tight end Marcedes Lewis’ block against Leonard Floyd. Dillon had a 17-yard catch in the flat on a coverage bust and Christian Watson caught a bullet for 15 on the next play. The key came on thid-and-6 in the red zone. Aaron Rodgers extended the play before throwing incomplete to Randall Cobb, but Jalen Ramsey was flagged for illegal contact against Christian Watson in the back of the end zone to make it first-and-goal at the 4.

Halftime

Packers 10, Rams 6

Green Bay mostly dominated the stats but took only a four-point lead into its roasty, toasty locker room. The Packers led 165-95 in yards, but their first drive ended in a red-zone failure and their second ended in Aaron Rodgers’ 10th interceptions of the season.

The Packers will get the ball to start the second half.

Second Quarter

Packers 10, Rams 6 (0 seconds remaining)

A holding penalty on Jonathan Garvin wiped out a 50-yard kickoff return by Keisean Nixon to the Rams’ 47. However, a 25-yard screen to Aaron Jones gave the Packers a chance for a Hail Mary at the end of the half. Elgton Jenkins missed the block, though, and Aaron Rodgers just couldn’t get enough separation to step into a throw before being sacked.

Packers 10, Rams 6 (46 seconds remaining)

Matt Gay drilled a 55-yard field goal through the chilly December night to make it a four-point game. On the first play after the two-minute warning, Quay Walker got a sack/strip but former Wisconsin right tackle Rob Havenstein plopped on the loose ball. That set up third-and-13. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry sent a six-man pressure but Baker Mayfield had all day and hit Tutu Atwell for 15 and a first down. The Packers got the stop, though, as Kenny Clark pressured Mayfield into a third-down incompletion.

Packers 10, Rams 3 (4:26 remaining)

AJ Dillon powered through safety Taylor Rapp for an 8-yard touchdown run. Dillon carried four times for 22 yards and added a 17-yard reception on the drive. No play was bigger than fourth-and-3 from the 17. The Packers lined up in shotgun and handed it to Dillon against the NFL’s fourth-ranked run defense. Center Josh Myers had a key block and Dillon thundered ahead for 4.

Packers 3, Rams 3 (10:41 remaining)

Matt Gay’s 33-yard field goal tied the score. Cam Akers had a run for 7, a catch for 10 and a run for 6, after which safety Rudy Ford threw him to the turf well out of bounds for a 15-yard penalty. The Packers got a key red-zone stop, though. On first down, safety Adrian Amos knifed into the backfield to stop an end-around to Tutu Atwell for minus-4. On third-and-7, Baker Mayfield’s pass to the flat was almost intercepted by linebacker Quay Walker.

First Quarter

Packers 3, Rams 0 (28 seconds remaining)

The Packers wasted a chance to extend their lead. Starting with great field position, the Packers had a first down at the Rams’ 44. Coach Matt LaFleur dialed up a shot play. Allen Lazard was wide open along the left sideline but the ball sailed over his head and was intercepted by Taylor Rapp. Lazard quit running on the play, perhaps sensing Rapp’s presence deep and expecting the ball to be thrown in the hole. Either way, it was Rodgers’ first 10-interception season since 2010.

Packers 3, Rams 0 (2:36 remaining)

The Packers got a three-and-out stop. On first down, Kingsley Enagbare picked up a coverage sack. On third down, Enagbare was all over a screen to Tyler Higbee and has a chance for an interception. After a 31-yard punt, the Packers will start at their 44.

Packers 3, Rams 0 (4:25 remaining)

Mason Crosby booted a 34-yard field goal to cap Green Bay’s opening drive, a disappointing ending to another bad red-zone series. Back after missing four games with an ankle injury, Romeo Doubs had a pair of 11-yard catches – including on the opening third-and-5 – and Aaron Jones had runs of 9 and 10 yards. On second-and-goal at the 5, Christian Watson got tangled up with All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tumbled to the turf. There was no call; the major contact seemed incidental though Ramsey had a bit of a tug. On third down, Leonard Floyd beat Zach Tom for a sack.

On Jones’ 10-yard run, he passed John Brockington for third place on all-time rushing list.

Packers 0, Rams 0 (10:39 remaining)

The Packers gave up a third-and-15 conversion but Preston Smith sacked Baker Mayfield on third-and-9 to force a punt.

Innis Gaines is off to a strong start on special teams. He dropped kickoff returner Brandon Powell after a 10-yard runback on the opening kick. On the punt, he leveled his man to help spring Keisean Nixon for a 19-yard return.

Injury update: Rams C Brian Allen, who was questionable with a calf injury before the game, exited on the second play after aggravating the injury. He is questionable.

Pregame Notes

- There does not appear to be much wind. So, it’s worth nothing that Packers kicker Mason Crosby was short from 50 and 53 yards while kicking to the north end – the 53-yarder landed halfway in the end zone. Kicking to the south end wasn’t any better, with Crosby’s kick from 49 yards hitting the crossbar and his 50-yarder landing in the end zone.

During his pregame routine, Rams kicker Matt Gay drilled the crossbar from 60 yards to the south and hit the left upright from 60 to the north.

- As expected, Zach Tom will start at left tackle. The rest of the group – left guard Elgton Jenkins, center Josh Myers, right guard Jon Runyan and right tackle Yosh Nijman – will be making their sixth consecutive start together.

- With kickoff about an hour away, it’s colder than expected. It’s 13 degrees, though the temperature is supposed to rise by 5 or 6 degrees by the end of the night. Snow is forecast in the area but the bulk of it won’t hit until after the game. Rookie receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are among those in short sleeves; cornerback Jaire Alexander is wearing a yellow undershirt.

At kickoff, it was 17 with a wind chill of 7.

Big Matchup

The arrival of rookie Christian Watson has jump-started Green Bay’s offense. The Packers are sixth in scoring the past four games thanks in large part to Watson’s eight-touchdown barrage.

The Rams have one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks with Jalen Ramsey, a Pro Bowler each of the last five seasons and an All-Pro in 2020 and 2021. This has not been the 28-year-old’s finest season. According to Pro Football Focus and its best guess at coverage responsibilities, Ramsey has allowed seven touchdowns – second-most among all corners.

Given Watson’s importance to Green Bay’s offense, it will be interesting to see how much the Rams match Ramsey against the red-hot rookie.

“We’ll see how they want to play us. I don’t think it’s always that simple and cut and dry,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “We’ve gotten into this discussion before with Jaire (Alexander), and their scheme is very, very similar to ours.

“I think you have to be creative in terms of how you manipulate the defense and how you move guys. I think it’s gotten to be a little more difficult on defense to just say, ‘Hey, you’re going to shadow this guy wherever he goes.’ Now Jalen’s a unique exception because he has played a lot of nickel for them. He’s got a rare, rare skill-set in terms of that he can really play anything out on the field. Shoot, I’ve seen him blitz off the edge, set edge, he’s physical. There’s nothing he can’t do.”

Packers-Rams Betting Information

The Packers are 7.5-point favorites at SI Sportsbook with an over/under of 39.5 points. Aaron Rodgers’ over/under is 222.5 yards; Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield’s total is 191.5.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Christian Watson’s over/under is 49.5 receiving yards. Also at FanDuel, Jets receiver Garrett Wilson is -120 to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Watson has the second-shortest odds at +400. Wilson has 67 receptions for 966 yards and four touchdowns while Watson has 28 receptions for 401 yards and a rookie-high seven scores.

Packers-Rams Inactives

Ruled out on Saturday, two of the NFL’s premier linemen, Green Bay left tackle David Bakhtiari and Los Angeles defensive tackle Aaron Donald, lead the inactives.