Packer Central

Live Updates: Packers Hold Off Rams 24-19

Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers (2-2) will battle Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams (1-3) at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday. Follow along for updates.

Bill Huber

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) catches a pass against Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake (37) to set up a touchdown.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) catches a pass against Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake (37) to set up a touchdown. / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams will battle for the 100th time in series history at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

Follow along for all the updates in a huge game for both teams.

Final Score

Packers 24, Rams 19

The Packers are going to escape. With the Rams getting uncomfortably close to the winning touchdown, Karl Brooks sacked Matthew Stafford on second-and-5 and Evan Williams made a sensational breakup on third-and-12 with 1:02 to go. The Packers ran out the clock.

Fourth Quarter

Packers 24, Rams 19 (2:57 remaining)

The drive started with Josh Jacobs breaking two tackles on a 13-yard run. However, Jordan Love opted for the pass on a run-pass option and had it swatted down at the line. Jacobs was stuffed on second down and Love underthrew Dontayvion Wicks on a deep shot, which allowed Darious Williams to break up the pass. The Rams will have eternity to win the game because the Packers burned just 33 seconds. Another terrible punt by Daniel Whelan went only 28 yards. So, the Rams will star at their 29.

Packers 24, Rams 19 (3:30 remaining)

The Packers are going to have to win the game over the final 3 minutes. A way-too-easy touchdown drive required the Rams to burn only 2 1/2 minutes off the clock. Back-to-back completions of 17 yards to Jordan Whittington and back-to-back-to-back completions of 7, 7 and 8 yards to Tutu Atwell set the stage for a 1-yard touchdown pass. On the two-point play, Carrington Valentine – who was flagged for interference on the play before the touchdown – stopped Atwell on a jet sweep.

Packers 24, Rams 13 (6:02 remaining)

Green Bay was 0-for-5 on third down in the first three quarters until Jordan Love scrambled for 12 on third-and-12. He ran through an ankle-tackle attempt by rookie defensive lineman Braden Fiske. Later, on third-and-5, Love coaxed Fiske offside for another first down. However, the Packers just can’t get out of their own way. A false start by Zach Tom, a low pass to Jayden Reed and a drop by Dontayvion Wicks led to a doomed third-down screen. Still, Green Bay drained more than 8 minutes.

Packers 24, Rams 13 (14:15 remaining)

The Rams needed one more first down to get into field-goal range but, on third-and-6, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley sent a blitz and defensive tackle Karl Brooks sacked Matthew Stafford to force a fumble.

Third Quarter

Packers 24, Rams 13 (3:55 remaining)

What an amazing swing for the Packers, who went from dire straits to up by two touchdowns. After Xavier McKinney’s latest interception, the Packers were in the end zone on two screens. First, it was to Josh Jacobs for 21; he broke a tackle for an additional 19 yards. Second, it was to Tucker Kraft, who ran through a couple tackle attempts near the goal line and got the ball across the line.

Packers 17, Rams 13 (8:15 remaining)

The Rams converted a third-and-5 at the start of the drive but the Packers’ defense delivered again on third-and-10. Matthew Stafford threw deep to Tutu Atwell against Keisean Nixon but the ball was overthrown and hung in the air too long. Xavier McKinney – who else? – made it 5-for-5 with interceptions with the Packers. Including the finale against the Eagles last week while he was with the Giants, McKinney has intercepted a pass in six consecutive games.

McKinney is the first player since at least 1970 with an interception in five games with his new team.

Packers 17, Rams 13 (11:15 remaining)

Wow, did this game change in a hurry. Rather than the Rams potentially driving to a two-score lead, the Packers are back in front. On second down from the 34, Jordan Love stepped up and found tight end Tucker Kraft wide open at midfield. He stiff-armed cornerback Darious Williams to the turf and ran through Quentin Lake inside the 5 for a 66-yard touchdown.

Rams 13, Packers 10 (11:58 remaining)

Perhaps a game-saving play by Kingsley Enagbare, who punched the ball out from hard-charging running back Kyren Williams. Xavier McKinney scooped up the loose ball to give Green Bay the ball at the 30.

Halftime

Rams 13, Packers 10

The Packers are 0-for-5 on third down on offense and have given up 88 rushing yards on defense. After Green Bay scored a touchdown, it went three-and-out on three consecutive possessions.

“We’ve just got to make the routine plays. There’s stuff there and we’re not executing,” coach Matt LaFleur said at halftime. “We can’t throw pick-six. We had a busted protection and it’s just been sloppy.”

The Rams lead at halftime for the first time this season and will get the ball to start the second half.

Second Quarter

Rams 13, Packers 10 (0:00 remaining)

Green Bay’s offense is a dysfunctional mess. After scoring on the opening drive, Green Bay just can’t sustain anything. On second-and-7 from the 19, the pass protection couldn’t hold up on what looked like a receiver screen to Jayden Reed. Kobie Turner buried Love, and Love’s pass to Reed went backward and bounced out of bounds for a loss of 19. So, instead of a potential touchdown to take the lead at halftime, the Packers were forced to settle for a field goal. Struggling kicker Brayden Narveson, after a Rams timeout, was perfect on a 46-yard field goal.

Rams 13, Packers 7 (2:02 remaining)

With the Rams set to get the ball to start the second half, the Packers needed a score to end the half. Instead, Jordan Love threw a Will Levis-style pick-six. Byron Young came untouched on a blitz off Love’s blind side. Young hit Love and threw a stupid pass into the flat toward Tucker Kraft, with Jaylen McCollough intercepting at the 4 and scoring a touchdown. The extra point was wide left.

Packers 7, Rams 7 (3:06 remaining)

Green Bay’s terrible tackling started with misses on a 7-yard run by Kyren Williams and a 7-yard pass to Jordan Whittington. Finally, Green Bay’s defense got a clean tackle, with Quay Walker knifing into the backfield to drop Williams for minus-6. On the next play, Javon Bullard got away with pass interference on a pass to tight end Colby Parkinson – Bullard arrived just a split-second too early. On third-and-16, rookie Edgerrin Cooper – who was questionable with a hip injury – started in the middle but blitzed to the left for a huge sack.

The Rams will get the ball to start the second half, so Green Bay's offense could use a scoring drive.

Packers 7, Rams 7 (9:47 remaining)

Jordan Love, for the second time in the game, led a wide-open Dontayvion Wicks too far. On second down, Byron Young dropped Josh Jacobs for a loss of four. Third-and-14 was Mission Impossible with pressure in Love’s face. A second consecutive bad punt by Daniel Whelan means the Rams will start at their 30.

Packers 7, Rams 7 (9:47 remaining)

Kyren Williams got his requisite touchdown to tie the game. The Rams had a short field and converted a fourth-and-1 on a 3-yard run by Williams, a third-and-3 with an 8-yard run by Williams on a sweep and, finally, on third-and-goal at the 1. The Packers missed four tackles on the drive, including defensive tackle Colby Wooden on the fourth-and-1 conversion.

Williams has scored in eight consecutive games.

First Quarter

Packers 7, Rams 0 (3:24 remaining)

Jordan Love stepped up in the pocket on third-and-2 and threaded a perfect strike to Jayden Reed, who dropped the ball. A rare bad punt by Daniel Whelan and holding on the return gave the Rams the ball at their 45.

Packers 7, Rams 0 (3:24 remaining)

The Packers just made a huge stand. Matthew Stafford’s 24-yard pass to Tutu Atwell and Kyren Williams’ 30-yard run – a well-timed play against Quay Walker’s blitz – gave the Rams first-and-goal at the 8. Two short runs by Williams made it third-and-goal at the 4. On third down, Stafford’s pass to tight end Colby Parkinson was too high, due in part to a well-positioned Walker. On fourth down, Evan Williams had tight coverage on Parkinson. Perhaps interference would have been called had the ball not been so far over the 6-foot-7 tight end’s head.

Packers 7, Rams 0 (6:45 remaining)

A 96-yard scoring drive has the Packers on the board. Nothing can possibly said in this space to describe Jordan Love’s 53-yard bomb to Jayden Reed. There were three defenders in the area, but the ball dropped between cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and safety Quentin Lake, with Love working his way between them to catch the ball at the 2. On the next play, Josh Jacobs found nothing up the middle, then bounced it around the right corner and won the race against Kobie Turner for his first touchdown with the Packers.

Packers 0, Rams 0 (11:50 remaining)

Xavier McKinney does more than intercept passes. On third-and-3, he delivered a big and well-timed hit against receiver Tutu Atwell to prevent a third-down conversion. On first down, TJ Slaton had a nice run stop against Kyren Williams for a gain of 1.

Packers 0, Rams 0

The Packers went three-and-out. On first down, Jordan Love missed Dontayvion Wicks, who was open for a potential big gain against Josh Wallace. Josh Jacobs gained 3 on second down and Kobie Turner got the sack as the Rams overwhelmed Green Bay’s front on third down.

The Rams won the toss and deferred, so the Packers started with the ball.

Going Deep With His Reed-ing

Jayden Reed, who led the team in receptions, receiving yards and total touchdowns as a rookie last year, is having a sensational start to his second season.

Where Reed has really taken flight is the deep passing game. He was quite good last year, with nine receptions out of 19 passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield, according to PFF. This year, he’s 4-for-4 – a league-best 100 percent and the only “perfect” receiver who’s had at least four deep targets.

Why is Reed so good? It’s not as if he has a Christian Watson-style skill-set. At 5-foot-10 7/8, he doesn’t have elite size. With 4.45 speed, he doesn’t have elite speed.

At least by the stopwatch.

“I think it’s a combination of things,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. “He’s got elite speed, and I think he does a good job running routes and just feeling leverages of DBs and putting himself in the best position to break off angles, to find the voids.

“But I think his speed’s the No. 1 thing that really helps him, just get past the defenders, get past the safeties and be able to make those plays down the field. And he has some really strong hands.”

Green Bay’s other receivers have caught 5-of-13 deep opportunities.

Action Report

Some notes from The Action Report’s Evan Abrams:

- Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has lost his last four games against Green Bay.

- The Packers are 3-point favorites. When the Rams are favorites with coach Sean McVay and Stafford, they are 24-8 straight up but 5-13 as underdogs. McVay is 28-18-1 against the spread against NFC North rivals but 39-41-3 against everyone else.

- Can Green Bay’s pass rush get on track after snoozing through most of the Minnesota game? Stafford has been pressured on 42 dropbacks, second only to the Browns’ Deshaun Watson (54).

This would be a good game for Rashan Gary to return to form.

“I say this to our guys all the time: Do not let my expectation be greater than your own expectation. And I don’t believe my expectation for Rashan is any greater than his own,” defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich said.

“So, is there an expectation for Rashan to go out there, rush the quarterback and get TFLs? Yeah, that’s everybody. It’s not just him. It’s collective. And there is some frustration there, but that’s our standard. He’s got to understand that we have to continue to grow to be able to meet those expectations that we’re asking him to do.

Packers-Rams Inactives

Jaire Alexander, Devonte Wyatt and Christian Watson are among the inactives for the Packers. Here’s who’s out and who's in.

Happy 100th

Including playoffs, the Packers lead the all-time series 50-47-2. Entering Game No. 100, Green Bay has won four in a row – all at Lambeau Field, and all during the second half of the season.

So, the Rams will get the Packers under more favorable terms on Sunday.

“I had heard about that in the offseason,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who has close ties with the Rams’ coach, Sean McVay, and offensive coordinator, his brother Mike LaFleur.

The first meeting came in 1937, with the Packers beating the Cleveland Rams 35-10. Don Hutson caught three touchdown passes.

The last battle in Los Angeles was played in 2018, with the Rams winning 29-27 at the Coliseum. Jared Goff threw for 295 yards and Todd Gurley ran for 114 as the Rams improved to 8-0.

Happy Birthday, Kenny Clark

Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark turned 29 on Friday.

“Man, it’s a third of my life,” the 10th-year pro said. “Yeah, it’s crazy. It’s crazy. I’ve been here a third of my life now.”

Clark was the team’s first-round pick in 2016. On the youngest roster in the NFL, he’s one of only four players on the team who’ve been here since the turn of the millennium.

Signed to a third contract on the eve of training camp, could he have imagined that he’d be in Green Bay 10 years later?

“Oh, no. No. Coming from where I come from, being here, it’s a blessing, you know what I’m saying?” Clark said. “It’s always a blessing to live another year and be a part of this.”

This will mark the fifth consecutive season in which the Packers and Rams have played. The last four meetings were at Lambeau Field, so this will be a rare Los Angeles homecoming for Clark, who played his high school ball in Rialto, Calif., which is located about 60 miles from Los Angeles.

He’ll have a box at SoFi Stadium for between 15 and 20 friends and family members.

“Just to go back home, it’s going to be awesome,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of family coming to the game. I haven’t played in L.A. since we played at the Coliseum a couple years ago [2018, to be exact]. I’m definitely excited to go back home and play in front of my family.”

Packers Will Miss Aaron Donald … Sort Of

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who along with Reggie White ranks among the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history, retired after last season.

How good was Donald? In 10 seasons, he was selected to 10 Pro Bowls. He was voted an eight-time All-Pro, the exceptions being his rookie year (when he was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year) and 2022 (when an injury limited him to 11 games).

“Yeah, he is one of one,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “There’s not too many guys that can wreck a game like he can.”

Packers guard Elgton Jenkins is one of the top blockers in the game. He said he’ll miss the best-vs.-best matchup.

“Yeah, for sure,” Jenkins said before pausing. “Well, it’s both ways, you know?”

Jenkins laughed. To state the obvious, it will be easier for the Packers’ offense to function – and win the game – without Donald, who had a sack in last year’s matchup.

“Playing a guy like that, it definitely lets you know where you’re at,” Jenkins said. “Whatever gets the job done on Sunday, I’m cool with that even though he’s not out there. We’ve still got to approach the game the same way.

“It’s still the L.A. Rams. They’ve got a good coach out there with (Sean) McVay. We definitely still got to go out there and play with that same intensity even though he’s not out there.”

The Rams’ defensive front is young. Of their starting front seven, outside linebacker Jared Verse and defensive end Braden Fiske are rookies and defensive tackle Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young are in their second year.

“I have been impressed by this group,” LaFleur said. “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, not only on their defense but on their offense, as well. And I know they’re well-coached. We’re going to have to continue to make improvements along in every phase of the game.”

More Green Bay Packers News

The big matchup | Packers-Rams three reasons to worry | Packers-Rams three reasons to believe | Packers suspend Romeo Doubs | Packers-Rams: Five keys | Packers-Rams final injury report | NFC North power rankings and previews | Reintroducing Colby Wooden | Jayden Reed chasing NFL history | Jordan Love struggled under pressure | Brayden Narveson remains confident | Packers-Rams: What channel and what to know | Packers at Rams matchups

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Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.