Packers get next chance to feast on Rams' struggling defense

 

[October 04, 2024]  By GREG BEACHAM

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Jordan Love grew up two hours north of Los Angeles in Bakersfield. He moved out of California for college in 2016, the same year the Rams brought the NFL back to LA after a 21-year absence.

Love gets the closest thing he'll probably have to an NFL homecoming game Sunday when his Green Bay Packers (2-2) visit the Rams (1-3) — whose struggling defense has made every opposing quarterback feel right at home this season.

“It’ll be fun,” Love said. “I’m excited about it. My first time playing at SoFi, so I’m excited to go back home, and (it's) obviously the closest game to back home in Bakersfield, so … I have a lot of family that lives there, and I’m excited to play in front of them.”

Cheeseheads finally will be seen in the stands at Rams owner Stan Kroenke's palatial stadium this weekend to herald the first visit by the Packers, whose most recent game in Southern California happened a year before SoFi opened.

On the field, the Packers will be looking to rebound from last week's loss to Minnesota in which they fell behind 28-0 before a rally that came up short. Love returned from a two-game absence with a knee injury to pass for career highs of 389 yards and four touchdowns, albeit with three interceptions, during the failed comeback.

Love and the Packers' third-ranked offense look like trouble for the Rams, who have the NFL's second-worst defense through four games, allowing 385.3 yards. A regression was expected with the retirement of Aaron Donald and the departure of coordinator Raheem Morris, but Los Angeles is struggling to be competitive while allowing 28.8 points per game — also the second-worst mark in the league.

“(Donald) is one of one,” said Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur, the Rams' offensive coordinator in 2017. “There’s not too many guys that can wreck a game like he can. But I have been impressed by (the Rams') group. They’re a lot younger up front. I think they do a really good job with a lot of their pick games. Obviously the effort stands out across the board.”

Sibling rivalry

This game features another matchup between LaFleur and his younger brother, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. The two have faced off several times before, including the Rams' loss at Green Bay last year.

Matt LaFleur was asked how much he and his brother might talk in the days leading up to this game.

“I blocked his calls,” he joked. “He’s out. No, I’m sure I’ll talk to him. It’s my brother, man. I’m going to talk to him. But we’re not going to talk about ball.”

Rocky red zone

The Rams' season would look much better if the offense could finish drives. Los Angeles is 7 for 17 in the red zone this season after going 1 for 4 last week in a winnable game at Chicago.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) warms before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Sean McVay's play-calling has been criticized in short-field situations throughout his mostly stellar coaching career, and the Rams' eighth-year head coach knows everything needs to get better despite the absence of injured receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, who would be among Matthew Stafford's best choices in tough situations.

“I could go on a very long-winded answer, but ultimately it boils down to decision-making and execution,” McVay said.

Struggling kicker

Packers rookie Brayden Narveson went 0 for 2 on field-goal attempts at Minnesota, with misses from 37 and 49 yards. He is 9 of 13 this season without any attempts beyond 50 yards.

“I’m going to make sure that I leave everything out on the field, that every time I step on the grass is potentially your last time, regardless of what position you play,” Narveson said. “I really want to hone that, be confident and take it a little bit of swagger, a little chip on my shoulder, because a lot of people are probably writing me off right now. I’m going to take that with me, not to prove people wrong, but prove the people that believed in me right.”

Help needed

The Rams' defense is struggling on every level despite a solid start for rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske up front. Los Angeles could get veteran help if cornerback Darious Williams and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison are able to make their season debuts. Both entered the 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve this week.

McKinney’s streak

Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney, who signed with the Packers after spending four seasons with the New York Giants, has intercepted passes in each of his four games.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the only other players since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to intercept passes in each of their first four games with a team are Buffalo’s Ken Lee (1972), the New York Giants’ Terry Jackson (1978) and the New York Jets’ Otis Smith (1995).

McKinney is only one of four players since 2000 to have an interception in each of his first four games in a season. The others were Minnesota’s Brian Russell in 2003, New England’s Devin McCourty in 2019 and Dallas’ Trevon Diggs in 2021.
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AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

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