The Los Angeles Rams traveled to take on the Green Bay Packers in the NFL divisional round, and unfortunately, their injuries finally caught up with them as they fell short in a 32-18 loss, ending their season.
Coming into the game, the Rams were without quarterback John Wolford due to a neck injury, forcing Jared Goff to make the start less than three weeks after undergoing surgery on his broken thumb.
Additionally, the Rams learned just before the start of the game that they would also be without top wide receiver Cooper Kupp after he tested out his injured knee pregame and was deemed not healthy enough to play.
Despite the injuries on offense, it was the Rams’ top-ranked defense that faltered in this game against Aaron Rodgers and the No. 1 Green Bay offense.
Part of the reason for the Rams’ defensive struggles was the lack of an impact from Aaron Donald, who is the likely NFL Defensive Player of the Year but was dealing with torn cartilage in his ribs.
Donald often found himself watching from the sidelines, and even when he was in the game was not able to make a big impact, finishing with just one tackle and no quarterback pressures.
The result was Rodgers being comfortable in the pocket all day, carving up the Rams defense for 296 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns, also adding one on the ground.
While Rodgers was able to do whatever he wanted, he was also complemented well with a quality running game as the Packers rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns in 33 total carries. As a whole, the Green Bay offense finished with 484 total yards, nearly doubling up the Rams’ 244.
Without any sacks or turnovers, it was a rare down game for the Rams defense, which clearly was not the same without a healthy Donald.
Meanwhile on the offensive side of the ball, the Rams put a few solid drives together but overall were not able to muster enough to stay in the game. Goff completed 21-of-27 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown, not turning the ball over in what was a solid game for him considering the injury he has been dealing with.
Cam Akers also had a nice game on the ground for L.A., rushing 18 times for 90 yards and a touchdown with one reception for six yards as well.
Rams rookie receiver Van Jefferson also stepped up in Kupp’s absence, finishing with six receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown in what was the best game of his young career.
While the Rams’ season came to an end sooner than they would have liked, there still is a lot for them to celebrate after a bounce-back year in which they went 10-6 and returned to the postseason after missing it a year ago. L.A. even won a playoff game, beating the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round to prove they were the best team in the NFC West.
The Rams will have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, but it should still largely be the same roster returning next season, and hopefully they can stay healthier down the stretch to get back to the Super Bowl.
