Week 5 will feature an electrifying NFC matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams.
The Packers are 2-2 after last week’s 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and the Rams’ record dropped to 1-3 after a road loss to the Chicago Bears. Both teams would need a win.
Green Bay was unable to get out of its own way against the Vikings, although they did fight a comeback to secure the victory after being down 28-0 in the first half.
Forced to play without two of their best receivers, Los Angeles’ offense wasn’t at full strength for much of the season. They had a quality win over the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago, but were defeated by the Arizona Cardinals in week two. It will be engaging to see which version of the Rams shows up on Sunday.
At 36 years elderly, Matthew Stafford is still threatening and the team still has one of the best coaches in the NFL in Sean McVay.
Jordan Love and company need to do a better job of securing the ball this week, while the passing rush needs to come on to put pressure on Stafford.
Both teams need a victory, and this may be decided by several key matches. Let’s dive into them below.
Packers defense against RB Kyren Williams
With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out on Sunday, Green Bay must be ready to keep Los Angeles from retreating. Even though Williams averaged just 3.5 yards per carry, he still receives a significant number of touches each game. He also has a knack for finding the end zone, as he leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns.
The Packers defense has faced Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor already this season, with both players rushing for over 100 yards. With Williams expected to be the focal point of Sunday’s game, limiting his impact could go a long way in stifling the Rams’ offense.
DT Kenny Clark vs. C Beaux Limmer
Clark needs to play better, but he’s also not as bad as some might think. He continues to attract plenty of attention, and while he hasn’t registered a sack yet, he’s tied with Devonte Wyatt in terms of having the most pressure on the team. Wyatt is expected to miss this week with an ankle injury, which means Green Bay will rely on Clark to provide most of the quick passing down the interior.
Fortunately, he has a favorable matchup with Limmer, who has already succumbed to eight pressures in four matches. The Rams threw Limmer into the fire this season after taking him in the sixth round. The debutant better rest well before Sunday’s match, because he will have his hands full.
WR Jayden Reed vs. CB Quentin Lake
Reed has caused a lot of problems for many defensive coordinators in 2024. Much of the offense has gone to Reed, who has 336 receiving yards, 91 rushing yards and three touchdowns (two receptions, one rushing). . The 2023 second-round pick picked up right where he left off as a energetic threat for Green Bay. Matt LaFleur continues to find inventive ways to get Reed the ball, allowing him to utilize his speed and ability to run after the catch to create problems for the defense.
About 78 percent of Reed’s offensive snaps have come from the slot this season, which means he will spend a lot of time lining up across from Lake, the Rams’ starting cornerback. Outside of the 49ers game, when PFF credited him with allowing six catches for 109 yards, Lake was pretty reliable in coverage. This week he is tasked with slowing down one of the top slot players in the league.
