Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers Preview: Quarterback Uncertainty Clouds Week 9

The Los Angeles Rams will take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, in a game that doesn't exactly promise good quarterback play. What should fans expect from the offense?

Meetings between offensive masterminds Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur aren’t supposed to have total score projections under 40, but here we are.

The Los Angeles Rams (3-5) will take on the Green Bay Packers (2-5) in Wisconsin on Sunday. They’ll do so with little certainty regarding the quarterback position. Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered a thumb injury in Week 8’s blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys and thus is a game-time decision for Sunday.

In his place would be backup Brett Rypien. He completed five-of-10 passes for 42 yards in relief of Stafford last week.

Stafford may be inactive for Sunday's contest after suffering an injury against the Dallas Cowboys / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay is dealing with a quarterback situation of its own. Quarterback Jordan Love—now in his fourth season, but first as a starter—has been one of the lesser starting quarterbacks in football this season. He’s been unable to mesh with a young receiving corps, creating more chaotic moments than confident ones.

The weather won’t resemble the Packers games in which no team wants to throw the football, but we may see a significant uptick in rushing attempts on Sunday. Hiding either a backup quarterback or an injured one is a lot more palatable when running backs Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman are producing almost as well as the starters they replaced.

Expect McVay to keep leaning on the easy button in the passing games, relying on a rebound performance from receiver Cooper Kupp. However, both defensive coordinators would prefer their opponent air it out on Sunday. Mistakes are just waiting to be made.

Defensively, Los Angeles will rely on defensive lineman Aaron Donald to be his typical, dominant self and will ask the secondary to step up. They won’t face a receiver as talented as Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb in Week 9, but another implosion makes Love’s day that much easier.

A shootout could get away from the Rams quickly.

WHAT: Los Angeles Rams (3-5) vs. Green Bay Packers (2-5)

WHERE: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI (81,441)

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, 10 a.m. (PDT)

TELEVISION: FOX

RADIO: ESPNLA 710 AM, Tu Liga Radio 1330 AM

ODDS: Rams +3.5 (-125), Moneyline +135, Total: 38.5 (o -110/u -118)