As the final minutes passed, Aaron Donald stood on the sideline trying to contain his tears.
Going into the NFC divisional playoff game on Saturday against the Green Bay Packers, a Rams defense led by its defensive star had led the team.
But with Donald limited because of a rib injury, the Rams had no answer for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The top MVP contender and future Hall of Famer looked perfect, going through two touchdowns and running for another to send the Rams to a 32-18 defeat in front of a 7,439 crowd at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
“This defense was robust and phenomenal throughout the year,” said Rams coach Sean McVay. “It is a difficult result and a difficult end to the season.
“But I don’t think it detracts from how big they were and how instrumental they were to get to this point as a team.”
The Packers advanced to the NFC championship game, where they will play the winner of Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Rams’ season ended in a day with temperatures around 30 and light snow.
“I love the scars that we were able to react to,” said McVay. “There were a lot of ebbs and flows this year.”
Most of the highlights came out of courtesy of a defense under the direction of first year coordinator Brandon Staley. The Rams led the NFL in the fewest yards and points allowed. They were first in defense of passes and second in bags.
But with Donald playing reduced snaps, Rodgers and the Packers showed why they were the league’s highest scoring attack.
Rodgers completed 23 of 36 passes for 296 yards. At the start of the second half, he connected with receiver Davante Adams for a one-yard touchdown. On the next Packers possession, he feigned a pass before running for a yard score.
Rams striker Michael Brockers (90) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) leave the field after the 32-18 playoff defeat on Saturday to the Packers.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Rodgers froze the game with a 58-yard kick to receiver Allen Lazard, with just under seven minutes remaining.
“Whatever defense we were in, he just looked up and everything he saw, he did the opposite of what we were showing, and it ended up working,” said safety Rams John Johnson.
The Rams did not fire Rodgers and hit him only once.
“I don’t know if I was hardly touched all night, except for the confusion coming out of my pocket,” said Rodgers.
On the few occasions when the Rams put pressure on Rodgers, he escaped and made plays that helped the Packers to accumulate 484 yards, the highest number given up by the Rams this season. It was only the second time this season that they gave up 30 or more points.
“He was doing what he does,” said Rams defensive striker Michael Brockers. “You try not to get involved in this. You try to hurry up and go after him, and he still makes those moves.
“You’re like, ‘Damn’. You just hope he doesn’t find an open receiver – and it felt like nine times out of ten he does. “
The Rams lost the few opportunities they had to create profits. At the end of the first half, Johnson and safety Troy Hill almost intercepted passes. In the second half, Rams forced running back AJ Dillon to fumble, but hit Rodgers.
“Being on the road, different weather, great quarterback of all time – we had some opportunities … but we didn’t profit,” said Johnson. “And that may have been the difference in the outcome of the game.”
Rodgers had help. Running back Aaron Jones ran for 99 yards and a touchdown. Jamaal Will-iams ran for 65 yards and Dillon added 27.
That was more than enough to make up for an offense from Rams, without injured receiver Cooper Kupp, who had another outstanding performance from newcomer running back Cam Akers, but missed several opportunities.
Quarterback Jared Goff, wearing gloves to protect his surgically repaired right thumb, completed 21 of 27 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown.
But that was no consolation for Goff.
“My job is to win the game,” he said. “There is absolutely no moral victory, especially in the playoffs.”
The Rams missed a chance to score a touchdown in the first quarter when, in a quarter and one on the Packers’ 14-yard line, point guard Austin Corbett was penalized for a false start. The Rams were forced to settle for a field goal that tied the score 3-3.
“Unfortunately, getting a penalty and not getting seven points there, I mean, what a big difference could have happened in the fourth half,” said Rams striker Andrew Whitworth.
The Rams lost 19-10 at halftime. The Packers increased their lead early in the third quarter, after Jones stopped a 60-yard run on the first play of the second half, and then ended the race with a touchdown.
But the Rams pulled in 25-18 in a touchdown run by Akers from the wildcat formation, and a hook and ladder side move for Akers for a two-point conversion.
“When we cut to 25-18 and the momentum started to come towards us, you could feel it,” said Goff.
Said McVay: “I really thought it would be our chance to come back and potentially drive, score and draw the football game – and you never know what happens.”
After a Packers punt, the Rams started at the six-yard line and reached 32 before Kenny Clark fired Goff on the second run, forcing the Rams to punt.
“This was our chance to really get back into the game and put some points on the board,” said Goff, “and unfortunately we missed that.”
The Rams forced Dillon to fumble on the second play of possession that followed, but Rodgers took the ball. Three moves later, he feigned a handoff, fell back and hit Lazard hard for a touchdown at 6:52 am.
Rams’ last ball possession ended with Goff’s resignation less than five minutes from the end.
“There is never a good way to have feelings now, when there is a purpose and you are not expecting it,” said McVay.