By Eric Goska
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| Fans tailgated near Lambeau Field ahead of the Rams-Packers divisional playoff game. |
The Packers’ offense took no quarter…off.
Green Bay spread the wealth from start to finish as it dismantled
Los Angeles and its top-ranked defense 32-18 Saturday at Lambeau Field. In doing
so, the Packers established a first in franchise playoff history.
This divisional playoff matchup was billed as irresistible
force (GB’s offense) meets an immovable object (LA's defense). That led to the
question: Which would prevail with a ticket to the NFC championship game on the
line?
No team allowed fewer yards per game (281.9), fewer passing
yards per game (190.7), or fewer points (296) during the regular season than did
the Rams. No club boasted a higher-rated passing attack (121.5) or scored more
points (509) than did the Packers.
Something had to give.
Green Bay commandeered 484 yards and 28 first downs in
prevailing by 14 points. It controlled the ball for 36 minutes and 12 seconds
while going 8-for-12 on third down.
But those totals don’t speak to the consistency with which
the team operated. By quarter, the Green and Gold amassed 108, 135, 129 and 112
yards.
Never in 58 previous playoff games had the team hit or surpassed
100 yards in all four quarters.
How steady was the Pack? They held the upper hand in time of
possessions in each 15-minute period. They produced 7, 9, 6, and 6 first downs.
Green Bay ripped off one play of more than 25 yards in each
quarter. Those gains – Equanimeous St. Brown (27-yard reception); Robert Tonyan
(33-yard grab); Aaron Jones (60-yard run); Allen Lazard (58-yard catch) – all occurred
on scoring drives.
Aaron Rodgers and his mates put up points on each of the
team’s first five drives, the best start to any postseason game in team history.
Then, following consecutive punts, the offense clicked for a touchdown and closed
out the game by holding the ball for the final 4:59.
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In being so unerringly relentless, Green Bay prevented the
Rams from doing the same. Los Angeles failed to gain more than 75 yards in any
quarter.
Thus, the Packers became the first playoff team this century
to have four 100s while holding their opponent without one.
Even during the regular season, this idea of have and have not
has been exceedingly rare. Green Bay has turned the trick just twice since
1944.
The Packers (122, 115, 112, 106) thrashed San Francisco (5,
minus-5, 88, 75) by a score of 41-14 on Oct. 23, 1960. Twenty-five years later,
the Green and Gold (105, 131, 120, 156) shut out Tampa Bay (21, 22, 9, 13) in
the Snow Bowl.
And that’s it. Just twice in the last 77 years have the Pack
held four of a kind while their opponent went bust.
Knowing that, don’t expect a repeat performance as Green Bay
hosts the NFC championship game. Asking lightning to strike twice in
consecutive weeks is asking too much.
Yards By Quarter Date Opponent Result
484 (108-135-129-112) Jan. 16, 2021 Rams GB won, 32-18
479 (92-179-151-57) Jan. 12, 1997 Panthers GB won, 30-13
466 (-5-108-216-147) Jan. 16, 1983 Cowboys GB lost, 26-37
442 (80-188-130-44) Jan. 15, 2011 Falcons GB won, 48-21
425 (64-80-156-125) Jan. 11, 2015 Cowboys GB won, 26-21
414 (151-81-98-84) Jan. 15, 2017 Cowboys GB won, 34-31
408 (142-88-126-52) Jan. 12, 2008 Seahawks GB won, 42-20
406 (7-140-125-134) Jan. 8, 2017 Giants GB won, 38-13
403 (107-108-87-101) Jan. 3, 1999 49ers GB lost, 27-30
401 (81-100-101-119) Dec. 26, 1960 Eagles GB lost, 13-17
Love the article, especially the 400 club. Wondering what the numbers are for the Pack in the 60's, besides 1960.
ReplyDeleteBoc
Hope you do a follow up article on the disastrous Packer loss from the NFC Championship game Eric. Despite a third quarter comeback and gift interceptions from Brady, the Packers failed to get it done with a FG attempt, rather than trying to get the TD, in the final minutes.
ReplyDelete