The Rams and Packers will look to keep their playoff hopes alive come Monday night. The Rams and newly acquired QB Baker Mayfield head into Lambeau after a dramatic come-from-behind win in against the Raiders. Aaron Rodgers and the Pack are coming in off of a bye after a routine Chicago win. Although both teams have had disappointing seasons, they still have meaningful football left to play.
Is Mayfield the Answer?
Long playoff odds aside, Baker Mayfield is looking to prove he belongs. After being traded to the Panthers in the offseason, Mayfield struggled to find success for the majority of the season. Eventually, after being released by Carolina, the Rams picked him up. Not but a few days later, Mayfield led a comeback after being down 16-3 with four minutes left in the ball game. The Rams were in a pickle struggling to find consistent QB play. Matt Stafford has a lingering spinal injury and John Wolford has displayed little to show he’s the future. If Mayfield can secure a win for LA, the future looks a lot brighter for both of them.
The last time Mayfield was at Lambeau, he threw four interceptions, two of which were to Rasul Douglas. The Packers’ secondary has far more talent coming in that the Rams’ receivers. Injuries have depleted the offensive unit with Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson both sidelined for the season. And while the Packers have been one of the worst at stopping the run, the Rams have been one of the worst at running the ball. Something has to give. Unfortunately for the Rams, the odds don’t favor them here.
Can the Packer Youth Stay Hot?
On the other side of the ball, we see a handful of Packer rookies continue to keep the Packers hopes alive. Injuries have rattled this squad as well, and with David Bakhtiari out, this game is no exception. Lucky for them, Zach Tom is no stranger to stepping up when needed. He’s already had to both at tackle and at guard this year. In 261 snaps, he’s given up one sack and has had no penalties. Tom has garnered praise from both coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers for his ability to play on short notice.
On the same side of the ball, we have receiver Christian Watson. There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said about the rookie. He has 8 TDs since Week 10 and can score from anywhere on the field. With his counterpart in Romeo Doubs set to return, who led the team in targets before his injury, the Packers offense could be deadly. Where they might struggle is getting the run game going. Aaron Donald is ruled out for the game and that is a huge loss for the Rams. However, this is still one of the top-run defenses in the league. If the Packers don’t get the ball moving on the run early on, which isn’t uncommon, the entire offense often struggles with it.
Rams vs Packers Overview
Kickoff between the Rams and Packers will be 9 degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of -5. The Rams have struggled over the last few years to come out on top when visiting the Frozen Tundra. For that reason, and with the Packers figuring out their offensive identity recently, the Packers are favored by seven. But the Rams are still a team led by Sean McVay featuring players with a lot to prove and anything can happen.
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