GREEN BAY – The Packers almost threw the knockout punch with Allen Lazard within the third quarter.
Then he got another chance.
Lazard’s 58-yard touchdown catch off a play-action fake in the fourth quarter right down the center of Lambeau Field helped seal Green Bay’s 32-18 NFC Divisional playoff victory over the LA Rams on Saturday.
The massive play restored the Packers’ two-score result in ship them again to another NFC title sport, this one at house subsequent Sunday towards both the Buccaneers or Saints.
“When the play was called, I used to be thinking to land for certain,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the play-action on second down, with the Packers’ defense has simply gotten a cease to protect a 25-18 lead
“Actually tried to sell it, got here up of the faux and noticed Allen digging. He made a very nice catch, saved his feet, and put that factor away.”
He had failed to do this two possessions earlier when on an analogous play, bending his path to the skin as an alternative, Rodgers’ throw – and a possible 60-yard TD, or an enormous gain at a minimal – went off his fingertips.
Main 25-10 at that stage after Aaron Jones’ 60-yard run to open the second half arrange a landing, Green Bay did not get the commanding three-score benefit it wanted and never did.
But Lazard, who finished with 4 catches for 96 yards, certainly redeemed himself.
“Dropping that first one clearly hurt, particularly at the moment within the sport,” Lazard stated. “It was an unacceptable drop, however thankfully, my coaches, my teammates actually trusted me. Aaron threw a superb ball for me to go make a play.”
Added Head Coach Matt LaFleur: “Big-time play in a big moment.”
The landing capped a powerful effort by the Packers and their top-ranked scoring offense against the Rams and their top-ranked scoring defense.
The Packers scored the primary 5 instances they touched the ball (three TDs, two FGs), then stalled twice earlier than the clinching TD put Green Bay virtually proper on its regular-season scoring common of 31.8, far forward of the Rams’ common of 18.5 factors allowed.
Requested who can cease Green Bay if the league’s best protection cannot, receiver Davante Adams merely stated, “Nobody.”
Adams bought the Packers’ first TD of the night time, beating nook Jalen Ramsey on a double-motion from the 1-yard line, on his approach to 9 catches for 66 yards.
Green Bay’s offensive line controlled the trenches, paving the way to 191 dashing yards before kneel-downs and no sacks of Rodgers (23-of-36, 296 yards, two TDs, 108.1 ratings). Rams stalwart Aaron Donald and his ailing ribs had been rendered a non-factor by guard Elgton Jenkins and others, whereas the unit as an entire has once again adjusted without All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari.
“Stellar is a good phrase,” Rodgers stated when requested to describe the road’s play. “As a result of it is rooted instar, and they were the stars of the sport tonight. That was a fantastic efficiency by them. They dominated the road of scrimmage.”
Jones finished with 99 rushing yards and a TD on 14 carries, Jamaal Williams added 65 yards on 12 attempts, and rookie AJ Dillon contributed 27 yards on six rushes, his last being a fumble that Rodgers fortunately recovered.
read also-Final score prediction for Rams vs. Packers in the divisional round
