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Los Angeles (4-9) has followed up its Super Bowl season with an
ugly campaign that has been derailed by injuries and
inconsistent play. The defending champs stumbled through an
unthinkable six-game losing streak that appeared destined to
become a seven-game skid until Baker Mayfield guided an
improbable comeback against the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 8.
Mayfield, who had just joined the Rams two days earlier after
getting released by the Carolina Panthers, rallied his new squad
from a 16-3 deficit late in the fourth quarter. Cam Akers
plunged in for a 1-yard score with 3:19 to play, and Mayfield
found Van Jefferson for a 23-yard TD strike with 10 seconds left
to punctuate the 17-16 comeback win.
"I don't know if you could write it any better than that,"
Mayfield said. "Obviously, we'd like to be a little bit more
stress-free, but it's a pretty damn good story, I'll be honest
with you."
Likewise, the Packers (5-8) would have preferred a stress-free
win in their last game before the bye -- against the Chicago
Bears on Dec. 4. However, in a season where seemingly nothing
has gone smoothly, Green Bay needed 18 fourth-quarter points to
secure a 28-19 win.
A.J. Dillon (21 yards) and Christian Watson (46 yards) had
touchdown runs in the final period, while the Packers
intercepted Justin Fields on Chicago's final two drives. The win
was Green Bay's 787th in the regular season, breaking a tie with
the Bears for the most in NFL history.
"It is crazy and it is awesome to be a part of. Most wins in
football at this level, it is really an honor to be part of the
Packers and be part of that winning tradition," Dillon said.
Green Bay now turns its attention to a Rams team that has used
the last 1 1/2 weeks to come together around Mayfield, who
finished 22 of 35 for 230 yards in relief of John Wolford
against Las Vegas. From the Packers' perspective, they don't
have much tape on Mayfield in the Rams' offense, but coach Matt
LaFleur doesn't seem too concerned.
"You look at the totality of the scheme," LaFleur said.
"Obviously we've played each other ... twice in the last two
years. There's a lot of familiarity within the staffs. A lot of
us have worked together, so we kind of know what we like (to
do)."
Green Bay has plenty of familiarity at quarterback in Aaron
Rodgers, who has thrown 15 career touchdown passes and three
interceptions -- counting the postseason -- against the Rams. He
and emerging rookie Watson (eight touchdowns in his last four
games) could be a handful for a Los Angeles defense that likely
will be without Aaron Donald (ankle) for the third straight
game.
Still, the Rams continue to play hard, perhaps in part because
they owe their first-round pick to the Detroit Lions.
"In the midst of what has been a challenging year, there has
been growth," coach Sean McVay said. "And for that I'm
grateful."
The Packers have captured seven of the last eight meetings
between the teams. Rodgers threw two touchdowns and ran for a
score in last season's matchup as Green Bay controlled the ball
for nearly 40 minutes in a 36-28 home victory.
--Field Level Media
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