Unbeaten Rams hold off Packers
LOS ANGELES — Aaron Rodgers never got the chance to lead another game-winning drive, thanks to one last outstanding special-teams play by the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams.
Greg Zuerlein hit a 34-yard field goal with 2:05 left before Ramik Wilson forced and recovered Ty Montgomery’s fumble on the ensuing kickoff return, sending the Rams to a 29-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Jared Goff passed for 295 yards and three touchdowns while the Rams (8-0) were sternly tested by the Packers (3-3-1). Both teams rallied from 10-point deficits to take a lead in front of a rollicking, bipartisan Coliseum crowd.
“That was a high-caliber, back-and-forth game,” Rams Coach Sean McVay said. “This team has demonstrated through eight games that while we have a long way to go, this team is capable of winning games in a bunch of different ways.”
Rodgers threw for 286 yards, but he was left watching the final minutes in frustration while the Rams extended their best start to a season since 1969 by capitalizing on two crushing special-teams mistakes by Green Bay.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers with 8:50 left to put the Packers ahead 27-26, but Goff and Todd Gurley drove the Rams into range for Zuerlein’s second field goal of the fourth quarter after a 25yard punt by JK Scott.
Montgomery then coughed up his return, and Wilson pounced on the ball.
“You trust your players on tough decisions, close decisions,” Packers Coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think Ty was just trying to make a play.”
In the final minute, Gurley ran 17 yards for a key first down and stopped before reaching the end zone, allowing the Rams to run out the clock.
Josh Reynolds caught two touchdown passes for Los Angeles. Gurley had 114 yards rushing and 81 yards receiving, and he scored a touchdown in his franchise record-tying 11th consecutive game on a 30-yard pass in the third quarter.
“That was probably my favorite [win] of the year,” said Goff, who went 19 for 35 without an interception.
The Rams faced their largest deficit of the season when they trailed 10-0 early in the second quarter, but they calmly turned it into a 23-13 lead late in the third.
Rodgers answered with two touchdown drives to grab a one-point lead for Green Bay in the fourth quarter, but Goff answered his fellow Cal product and childhood hero after Aaron Donald sacked Rodgers on third down to stop the Packers’ next drive.
The Rams were not as sharp as the Packers early on. They punted on their first three possessions for the first time in McVay’s head coaching career, and Green Bay sacked Goff three times early.
Los Angeles trailed 10-0 when it finally scored on a safety with 2:47 left in the first half. Goff then mounted a scoring drive ending in a 1-yard TD catch by Reynolds 21 seconds before halftime.
After Reynolds scored on a 19-yard grab late in the third, the Packers calmly responded with three big plays culminating in Aaron Jones’ TD draw run up the middle with 13 seconds left.