The Green Bay Packers advanced to the NFC title game with an impressive 32-18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday at Lambeau Field.
The beauty of the victory was the combination of the expected production of famous players and the plentiful contributions of RPG players from the entire Matt LaFleur team.
Here are the nails and failures of winning the Packers’ divisional round:
Nails
OLB Rashan Gary: The second year edge rusher made the most of his opportunities once again. Playing just 32 clicks, Gary was in a pair of bags and had a team of seven high pressures. His best moment came in a third sack, when he defeated veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth with speed and strength inside and then tracked Jared Goff with the help of Kenny Clark. He is playing faster and the physical gifts are starting to create consistent production. Mike Smith’s award-winning student is slowly becoming a legitimate difference maker.
WR Davante Adams: Nine 66-yard receptions are not “wow” numbers, but Adams was still impressive. He left Jalen Ramsey hanging in the air in a devastating way in the first half. He later had a chance to make an explosive move in a perfectly executed double move, but Aaron Rodgers did not throw a big ball at him. Matt LaFleur’s brilliant playcall and Adams’s astute pre-snap movement created the touchdown.
RG Lucas Patrick: A major concern coming up on Saturday was Rams finding ways to isolate defensive striker Aaron Donald from Patrick, especially in the passing game. With Donald limited by a rib injury, Patrick had no problems. In fact, he was winning most of his fights. The Packers ran within the zone relentlessly and effectively. Patrick, Corey Linsley and Elgton Jenkins did all the heavy lifting. In Aaron Jones’ 60-yard run to start the second half, Patrick’s one-on-one seal block created the alley.
RT Rick Wagner: Facing rusher Leonard Floyd could have been a significant challenge for Wagner, but he held himself against the ex-Bear and was excellent at the racing game. Although everyone was good at attacking for the Packers, Pro Football Focus had Wagner as the only attacker to launch a shutout on passing protection. Hiring the veteran to replace Bryan Bulaga for a fraction of the price was a stroke of genius by Brian Gutekunst.
OLB Preston Smith: His pass-rushing production remains inconsistent, but the veteran external linebacker still finds different ways to impact the game. Twice, he raised his hands and deflected a pass on the field. The first came third in the opening series. He read Goff’s eyes, entered the overtaking lane and dropped it, preventing a likely conclusion. Functionally speaking, the pass separation was as good as a serve. He hit Goff once and helped to force a field goal by hitting a block and breaking the line to stop Cam Akers in the third and second in the first half.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: The Packers can credit him with a drop in the final zone in the first series. It was a difficult ball thrown over his head, but it was not a contested catch situation and he put both hands on it. Even so, the MVS was solid. He made a difficult reception away from his body in a response and passed the defender for 12 meters on the first charge. The Rams had to respect their speed. Later, he made an intelligent adjustment to the scramble drill, opening late in the middle for a first-down capture. His late defensive maneuver over John Johnson prevented an interception to end the first half. With a typically accurate shot by Aaron Rodgers, he would have scored a 92-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He prepared the cornerback with a double movement and was free, but Rodgers passed the ball over his head out of bounds. His most significant move came in the fourth period, when he hit a bubble screen and went through the sticks for an important first descent.
RB Jamaal Williams: He ran more on Saturday than any other competition in his NFL career. When he starts down the hill and lowers his shoulder, the pile will move. Six of his 12 races won first runs, and he won 44 yards after contact, by PFF. Three of his runs converted third casualties.
LB Krys Barnes: Coaches are unlikely to like Akers carrying him five yards to the final zone in the Wildcat race. They will probably appreciate almost everything else. Playing with a squad to protect an injured hand, Barnes has not lost a tackle in 10 attempts and has been active across the field. At the end of the game, he took an excellent break on an external route and probably would have eliminated Goff with two healthy hands. He can be manipulated as a midfield defender on the roof, but his game always seems to be improving.
Duds
LS Hunter Bradley: Two of his photos didn’t even come close. The first, which he fired a meter in, resulted in an unsuccessful attempt at an extra point. Later, he almost jumped the grass with a kick. JK Scott did well to even take the two pictures. Bradley was very inconsistent in 2020.
RB AJ Dillon: The confusion may have been a game-changing moment. The exchange between the rookie and Rodgers has not been clean. It didn’t cost the Packers, but it’s the kind of game that will make LaFleur question Dillon later in the games.
CB Kevin King: He attacked well, perhaps at the highest level of the season. But the Rams still found five conclusions and three different first casualties against its coverage. Robert Woods beat him twice for first runs, and rookie Van Jefferson picked up all three targets with King on the cover. The teams are hardly playing in Jaire Alexander, so King will take the test. Quarterbacks still find it very easy to find conclusions of chain movement under King’s cover.
DL Damon Harrison: The Packers put him on the field for just three moves. He was eliminated from all three, so Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster took most of the work the rest of the way. The Packers may have been uncomfortable having Harrison on the field against the Rams’ up-tempo looks.