NFC Top Game: Who will concede their fourth loss
Among several other interesting matchups in NFL Week 12, a true top-of-the-table matchup awaits American football fans with Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams at 10:25 p.m. on Sunday. The two top seeds in the NFC could each solidify their playoff prospects if they manage a win this week.
Both teams have been able to shine so far through their passing game on offence, here the duel of the quarterbacks is Aaron Rodgers vs. Matthew Stafford. In the Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams game, our prediction is that Stafford could recover enough after a week off to return to a dominant performance like he put on earlier this season.
In addition, the Packers have much bigger personnel issues, as several key contributors could be out for the upcoming matchup or not at their best due to illness or injury.
While the bookmakers don’t see a clear winner in the Green Bay – Los Angeles game with more even betting odds, we still believe the Rams will win.
Green Bay Packers – Statistics & current form
The team from Green Bay in Wisconsin has so far not lost a single game at their home ground since the start of the current season. This Sunday, however, the winning streak could come to a bitter end in front of their own fans.
While the Packers’ defence allowed an above-average number of yards thrown (341) and three touchdowns last week against the Minnesota Vikings, this is not in line with their normal performance. In fact, the defence is holding their opponents to under 20 points per game on average, which is not something many other teams can necessarily claim.
No Rodgers, no chance?
The only time Packers quarterback and veteran Aaron Rodgers has not been able to lead his team onto the field this season was in their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs on the ninth day of play. He was out due to an illness. That game was also promptly lost 7-13, with the offense not exactly covering itself in glory without its captain.
Now Rodgers once again appears to be unfit for duty. He had to miss all of Thursday’s practice due to his broken toe – not exactly good news for Packers fans. In the Packers vs Rams matchup, our prediction is that even if Rodgers plays, he can’t be 100%, which will hamper the Packers’ offense.
But Rodgers is not the only potential absentee in Green Bay. Running back Aaron Jones, wide receiver Allen Lazard and left tackle David Bakhtiari may be missing three other first-team offensive players. Still, don’t underestimate the first-place team in the NFC North.
Key Players:
QB: Aaron Rodgers (if he plays)
RB: AJ Dillon
WR: Davante Adams
WR: Marquez Valdes-Scantling
CB: Eric Stokes
Los Angeles Rams – stats & recent form
After the Rams should be fully recovered from a game-free week for the upcoming encounter, they have as many losses as their upcoming opponents at seven to three and just one less win. That puts the Los Angeles-based team in second place in the NFC West behind the Arizona Cardinals.
The team from LA has also only lost one away game so far – another reason why a bet on the latter could work out in the Packers versus Rams game. Only linebacker Leonard Floyd could be missing as a key defensive player. In general, however, the Rams’ defence has many stars like Aaron Donald or Jalen Ramsey, the latter of whom could be recommended as one of the best cornerbacks in the league.
Is the offence up and running again?
Matthew Stafford’s last two games haven’t exactly been marked by success, going 10-31 and 16-28. However, after a week off, his dominant play could return. The odds are also on the Rams’ side in the Packers vs. Rams game, precisely because the QB has some good face-off stations.
Especially the passing game runs through wide receiver Cooper Kupp, also tight end Tyler Highbee is worth mentioning. So far, however, new addition to the team Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t quite been able to contribute to the Rams’ offense.
Another new addition is a star from the Denver Broncos, namely Von Miller. Along with Aaron Donald, the Rams have an excellent pass rush that should put a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Key Players:
QB: Matthew Stafford
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Odell Beckham Jr.
DE: Aaron Donald
CB: Jalen Ramsey
Green Bay Packers – Los Angeles Rams Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
The last time these two teams met in January this year, the Packers emerged as relatively clear winners, 32-18. However, the personnel changes could make the decisive difference in the upcoming encounter.
The encounter becomes much more explosive when one learns that both teams made great efforts to find the star OBJ, but the Packers lost out. Furthermore, very exciting duels between individual players can arise in this match.
While the home team’s Eric Stokes will most likely try to get Kupp under control and have to hope that OBJ hasn’t fully integrated into his new team yet, the two former teammates Davante Adams and Jalen Ramsey will meet.
Green Bay Packers – Los Angeles Rams Tip
In the Packers vs Rams game, the over/under betting odds are also quite interesting as both teams are capable of scoring very high numbers of points. However, if the Rams have been able to recover sufficiently in their “off week”, nothing should stand in the way of their victory.
For this reason, we also believe in a win for the away team. Especially if some of the Packers’ key players are not at their best or, in the worst case, even completely out for the upcoming match, the Rams can take home their eighth win.
