Packers host Rams in Divisional Playoff
Saturday at Lambeau Field to decide who moves on to the NFC Championship.
This will be the third postseason meeting between the two franchises, with the Rams winning, 45-17, in St. Louis in the 2001 NFC Divisional Playoff and Green Bay winning, 28-7, in Milwaukee in the 1967 Western Conference Championship.
While the Rams won the last matchup between the two teams back in 2018, Green Bay has won five of the last six contests dating back to 2007.
The Packers are 9-3 all-time in playoff games played on a Saturday, including a 6-1 mark at home.
GREEN BAY IN THE DIVISIONAL ROUND
The Packers earned a bye week to the divisional round of the playoffs for the seventh time since 1978 and in back-to-back years for only the second time (2019, 2014, 2011, 2007, 1997, 1996). Green Bay is 5-1 in the previous six divisional games after a bye, including a 28-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks last season.
Overall, the Packers are 10-10 in the divisional round of the playoffs with victories in three of the last four.
Green Bay is 7-1 at home in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Packers' eight appearances in the divisional round of the playoffs since 2010 are the most in the NFC and the second-most in the NFL (New England, nine).
QB Aaron Rodgers has started seven divisional playoff games, throwing for 2,062 yards (294.6 per game), 16 touchdowns, four interceptions and a passer rating of 101.5. Dating back to 2008, Rodgers is No. 2 in the NFL in passer rating in divisional playoff games (min. 100 att.), and No. 2 in passing touchdowns, trailing QB Tom Brady (22 TDs in nine games) in both categories. Rodgers has a completion percentage of 64.8 in divisional games that ranks No. 3 in the NFL since 2008 (min. 100 pass att.)
Rodgers has two divisional playoff games with a passer rating of 125-plus. Dating back to 1950, that is tied for the second-most in the NFL (min. 15 att.) behind Brett Favre's three (stathead.com).
STACKING WINS
With a win over Philadelphia in Week 13, Green Bay (804) became the first team in NFL history to reach 800 wins (including playoffs).
The past two seasons (2019-20) marked only the second time in team history (1996-97) that the Packers have ended the season on a winning streak of five-plus games in back-to-back years.
With matching 13-3 records in 2019-20, it is just the second time in team history that the Packers have won 13-plus games in back-to-back seasons (13-3 in 1996 and 1997).
Green Bay is the only team in the NFL to win 13-plus regular-season games in both 2019 and 2020.
The Packers have won 19 of their last 22 games (including postseason).
WITH THE CALL
The game will be televised to a national audience on FOX with Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play) and Daryl Johnston (analyst) calling the action and Pam Oliver reporting from the sidelines.
Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since November 1929, heads up the Packers Radio Network that is made up of 50 stations in four states. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst) and three-time Packers Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro John Kuhn (sideline) will call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 25th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 22nd season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio (WTMJ feed), WTMJ.com via desktop computer and on numerous devices through NFL Game Pass.
Westwood One Sports will air the game on radio across the country. Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and James Lofton (analyst) will call the action with Scott Graham hosting the pregame and halftime shows
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Rams:
Regular season, all-time: 45-46-2
All-time, Postseason: 1-1
All-time, at home: 28-19-0 (7-4-0 at Lambeau Field)
All-time, at home in postseason: 1-0-
Streaks: The Packers have won five of the last six meetings between the two teams dating back to 2007
Last meeting, postseason: Jan. 20, 2002, Edward Jones Dome, Rams won, 45-17
COACHES CAPSULES
Matt LaFleur: 26-6-0, .813; (1-1 postseason); 2nd NFL season
Sean McVay: 43-21-0, .672 (3-2 postseason); 4th NFL season
Head to Head: LaFleur 0-0 vs. McVay
vs. Opponent: LaFleur 0-0 vs. Rams; McVay 1-0 vs. Packers
MATT LaFLEUR…In his second season as the Packers' 15th head coach.
In his 12th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
Led the Packers to 26 regular-season victories during the 2019-20 seasons, trailing only George Seifert (28 wins) for the most in a head coach's first two seasons in NFL history.
Became only the fifth coach in NFL history to win 13-plus regular-season games in his first season as a head coach (Jim Caldwell, George Seifert, Jim Harbaugh, Steve Mariucci).
Guided the Titans' offense in 2018 to a No. 7 league ranking in rushing (126.4 ypg) as Tennessee registered 11 games with 100-plus rushing yards, tied for No. 2 in the NFL.
Helped the Rams lead the league in scoring with an average of 29.9 points per game in 2017, more than doubling their average from 2016 (14.0 ppg).
Tutored QB Matt Ryan, who led the league in passer rating (117.1) in 2016 on his way to being named NFL Most Valuable Player by The Associated Press, and QB Robert Griffin III, who became the first QB in Washington franchise history to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012.
SEAN McVAY…In his fourth season as the Rams' 23rd head coach.
Led the Rams to a 10-6 regular-season record in 2020, marking the team's fourth consecutive winning season under his guidance.
Became the youngest head coach in NFL history to lead a team to a Super Bowl berth, doing so in 2018 after posting a 13-3 regular-season record.
Prior to joining Los Angeles, served as Washington's offensive coordinator (2014-16), tight ends coach (2011-13) and offensive assistant (2010). Also coached tight ends for the Florida Tuskers of the UFL (2009) and was a coaching assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008.
Graduated from Miami (Ohio) University, where he played wide receiver from 2004-07.
THE PACKERS-RAMS SERIES
The two franchises first met in 1937 while the Rams were located in Cleveland. The teams would meet every year from 1937-71 with the exception of 1943, when the Rams didn't field a team.
Green Bay went 12-1-1 in the first 14 meetings between the teams from 1937-44.
The teams have met twice in the postseason, with the Packers winning the 1967 Western Conference Championship, 28-7, and the Rams taking the 2001 Divisional playoff contest, 45-17.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur served as the Rams' offensive coordinator in 2017…Rams special teams coordinator John Bonamego held the same role in Green Bay from 2003-05…Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero was a defensive quality control coach for the Packers in 2016…Green Bay wide receiver Tavon Austin was selected by the Rams with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and spent five seasons (2013-17) with the team…Packers running backs coach Ben Sirmans held the same position for the Rams from 2012-15…Packers coaching assistant/minority fellowship Ruvell Martin played for the St. Louis Rams in 2009…Green Bay defensive backs coach Jerry Gray was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft and played seven seasons (1985-91) for the team, earning four Pro Bowl selections…Rams OL David Edwards (2015-18) and T Rob Havenstein (2010-14) both played collegiately for the University of Wisconsin…Rams running backs coach Thomas Brown held the same position at Wisconsin in 2014…Rams cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant played at Wisconsin from 2005-08…Rams assistant to the head coach Billy Nayes worked for the Packers from 1997-99. He also attended and later worked at Wisconsin from 2006-09…Members of the Packers' roster that played collegiately in California include Davante Adams (Fresno State), Krys Barnes (UCLA), Aaron Rodgers (California, Chico CC), Marcedes Lewis (UCLA) and Kenny Clark (UCLA)…Southern California natives on the Packers roster include Barnes (Bakersfield), Clark (Rialto), Lewis (Long Beach), Jordan Love (Bakersfield) and Equanimeous St. Brown (Anaheim)…Packers defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery was born in Los Angeles…Rams head coach Sean McVay coached for the Washington Football Team from 2010-16 while Packers LB Preston Smith (2015-16), LaFleur (2010-13), Packers inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti (2010, 2014-16), Rams assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Barry (2015-16), tight ends coach Wes Phillips (2014-16), pass game coordinator Shane Waldron (2016) and Pleasant (2013-16) were with the organization…Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine served as the Browns' head coach in 2015 when Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell coached the team's quarterbacks…Pettine, O'Connell and Rams assistant offensive line coach Andy Dickerson also crossed paths with the Jets, when Pettine was the defensive coordinator (2009-12), Dickerson a coaches' assistant (2011) and O'Connell (2009-11) played quarterback for the team…Packers S Adrian Amos and Rams LB Leonard Floyd played together for the Bears from 2016-18, while Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley coached the team's outside linebackers (2017-18)…Floyd was a freshman at Georgia in 2013 when Olivadotti coached for the team…Rams QB Blake Bortles (2014-18) and CB Jalen Ramsey (2016-18) both played in Jacksonville while Lewis (2014-17) and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett (2015-18) were with the franchise…Hackett served as the Bills' offensive coordinator in 2013-14 when Rams WR Robert Woods played for the team…Pettine (2013) and wide receivers coach Jason Vrable (2013-16) also coached for the Bills when Woods was on the roster…Packers LB Christian Kirksey and Rams OL Austin Corbett both played for the Browns from 2017-18…Rams LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was a DE/LB at Oklahoma when Montgomery coached the team's defensive line from 2013-14…Packers T Rick Wagner (2017-19), TE Robert Tonyan (2017) and Rams DL A'Shawn Robinson (2016-19) all spent time together with the Lions…Hackett and Evero played together collegiately at UC Davis during the 2001-02 seasons…Former college teammates include: Packers P JK Scott, Rams OLB Terrell Lewis and Robinson (Alabama); Packers CB Josh Jackson, Kirksey and Rams OL Austin Blythe (Iowa); Packers G Ben Braden, LB Rashan Gary, G Jon Runyan and Rams CB David Long (Michigan); Packers C Corey Linsley and Rams LS Jake McQuaide (Ohio State); Amos and Rams S Nick Scott (Penn State); Packers DL Kingsley Keke and Rams WR Josh Reynolds (Texas A&M); Packers S Vernon Scott, LB Ty Summers and Rams OL Joseph Noteboom (TCU); Barnes, Clark and Rams LB Kenny Young (UCLA); Packers CB Kevin King and Rams DT Greg Gaines and OL Coleman Shelton (Washington); Wagner and Havenstein (Wisconsin).
