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There wasn’t much focus on the Green Bay offensive line as they prepared for the Packers’ divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. The attention was naturally elsewhere: Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is one of the top contenders for the NFL MVP award, and the Rams had the league’s first defensive unit with the Dominant defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
But hampered by a rib injury, Donald was frequently sidelined on Saturday and would only make one tackle in the game. While Rodgers had another patient and skillful playoff performance that included two touchdown passes, it was Green Bay’s hasty attack – fueled by the authoritative push from his offensive line – that paved the way for a victory. regular 32-18.
“They were the stars of the game tonight,” Rodgers said of his offensive linemen. “They dominated.”
The Packers, who racked up 188 yards and recorded 484 total yards, advance to next weekend’s NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay against the winner of Sunday’s game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Saints. of New Orleans. This will be Rodgers’ fifth appearance for the NFC title, but his first at home in Green Bay.
Saturday was the first time this season that the Packers hosted spectators for a home game, and about 8,500 fans, including families of team employees, gathered at Lambeau Field. Rodgers said he hopes for an even bigger crowd next weekend.
“It was a joy to see them,” Rodgers said of the Packers loyalists. Looking forward to their return for the first NFC Championship game in Green Bay since 2008, Rodgers added, “It means a lot. I am moved with the crowd there today.
Green Bay running back Aaron Jones rushed for 99 yards on 14 carries, including a grueling 60-yard draw in the Packers’ opening play of the second period. When Jones ended the Packers’ possession with a 1-yard touchdown, he blocked a brief rally the Rams had staged in the second quarter.
The Packers had taken a 19-10 first-half lead on two field goals from Mason Crosby, a shrewd and scrambled 1-yard touchdown by Rodgers and a 1-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers, who completed 23 36 passes for 296 yards, to wide receiver Davante Adams, who caught nine passes for 66 yards.
Los Angeles rallied to make a third quarter run for the Packers. Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who completed 21 of 27 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown, had looked out of sync at this point. Perhaps it was because he lacked one of his main receiving goals, Cooper Kupp, who missed the game with a knee injury. But to start the second period, Goff completed six straight passes for 51 yards.
The Rams then returned to the rushed offense, and on a first goal from the Packers 7-yard line, running back Cam Akers took a direct slam and attacked the end zone. The Packers’ lead has been reduced to seven points.
But Jones and Rodgers were not deterred.
After beating the midfield of the Rams’ defensive line with games going for much of a possession, Rodgers rang the scrimmage line on a second of betting to call a deep pass to wide receiver Allen Lazard. Rodgers started the game with a fake back-court action play, then connected with Lazard, who split two defensemen and caught a perfectly placed ball in the open field for a 58-yard touchdown.
The score put the Packers ahead, 32-18, with less than seven minutes to go. The Rams did not cross the Green Bay 47-yard line in the dying minutes of the game.
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