Green Bay Packers 24-12 LA Rams: Aaron Rodgers and Co. keep their playoff hopes alive as they bounce back from 1-7 slip with a second consecutive win on Monday Night Football
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
AJ Dillon ran for two scores, Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Aaron Jones and the Green Bay Packers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 24-12 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
Dillon put Green Bay (6-8) ahead for good with a tiebreaking 8-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and also scored from 1 yard in the third period. He ran for 36 yards on 11 carries before leaving the game midway through the second half to be assessed for a concussion.
Rodgers went 22 of 30 for 229 yards with a touchdown and interception to win his ninth straight Monday Night Football start. The longest Monday Night Football winning streak by a starting quarterback is held by Kenny Stabler, who won 11 straight from 1975-80.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws over Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Greg Gaines (91)
The quadruple MVP’s lone touchdown pass was a 7-yarder to Jones, who rushed for 90 yards and had four catches for 36 yards.
Rodgers’ final win on Monday night came in frigid conditions. The temperature was 15 degrees (minus -9 degrees Celsius) with a wind chill of 7 just before the opening kick-off.
The Rams (4-10) have tied the highest loss total of any defending Super Bowl champion. When John Elway retired after leading Denver to consecutive Super Bowl titles in the 1997 and 1998 seasons, the Broncos finished 6-10 in 1999.
Los Angeles went this game without several notable injured players, including three-time defensive player of the year Aaron Donald and All-Pro receiver Cooper Kupp. Quarterback Baker Mayfield made his first Rams start with injuries that sidelined Matthew Stafford and John Wolford.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield throws a pass during the game against the Green Bay Packers
Mayfield had led the Rams to a 17-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on December 8, less than 48 hours after they claimed him from Carolina waivers. Mayfield wasn’t as effective on Monday, going 12 of 21 for 111 yards with a touchdown and interception.
He was sacked five times while working behind an offensive line, missing Brian Allen, who injured a calf on the first play of the game through scrimmage. Preston Smith recorded two sacks for Green Bay.
The Rams also got field goals from 33 and 55 yards from Matt Gay, who also sent an extra punt attempt wide right. Gay’s 55-yarder matched the third-longest field goal anyone has ever made at Lambeau Field.
Mason Crosby had a 34-yard field goal for Green Bay while playing his 255th consecutive regular season game to tie Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre for the longest streak in franchise history.
Rams wide receiver Ben Skowronek (18) tries to tackle Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas (29)
After Gay and Crosby traded field goals early in the game, Green Bay got ahead, thanks in large part to Dillon, the six-foot-tall, 247-pound running back whose bruising style thrives in this kind of weather.
Facing fourth and third out of 17, the Packers passed on a field goal attempt and instead gave the ball to Dillon, who ran for 4 yards. Dillon then put Green Bay ahead for good with an 8-yard touchdown run that pushed the Rams defenders back about the last yard.
The Packers led 10–6 at halftime and broke open the game by scoring touchdowns on their first two drives of the second half. Rodgers’ 7-yard touchdown pass to Jones put the Packers ahead 24–6.
Los Angeles narrowed the lead to 24-12 on Mayfield’s 8-yard completion from Tyler Higbee, the first touchdown catch by a Rams tight end this season.
Packers Run Back Aaron Jones (33) tries to get over Ram’s safety Taylor Rapp (24).