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The Green Bay Packers will host the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs. The Packers secured a first-round bye to avoid the Wild Card round as the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will enjoy homefield advantage at Lambeau. The game is set for Saturday, January 16 with kickoff at 4:35 p.m. ET. The game will air on FOX. If the Packers win, they will host winner of the Bucs-Saints matchup in the NFC Championship game. If the Rams win, they’ll face the winner of the Bucs-Saints matchup on the road.
How the Rams and Packers got here
The Packers finished the year with their second-consecutive NFC North title and yet another season with a 13-3 record. Head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have proven their worth as the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will return to the field well rested after their first-round bye. Rodgers has played at an MVP level through the 2020 season, finishing the year with 4,299 passing yards and 48 touchdowns for a 9.1% touchdown rate. Though Green Bay led the NFL in points scored and Rodgers has made few mistakes in 2020, it will be a tough fight against the Rams' top-end secondary.
The Rams enter the Divisional round after a stellar performance against the Seahawks in Seattle, bringing Pete Carroll the first home playoff loss in his career. Jared Goff was active for this contest, despite having surgery earlier in the week, though it was QB John Wolford who made the start. The team intended him to play out the game, but unfortunately, a neck injury forced him from the game early, tossing Goff into action. Goff completed 9 of 19 pass attempts for 155 passing yards and a TD while the Rams leaned heavily on rookie RB Cam Akers, who totaled 30 touches on the day.
The Rams have one of the most dominant defensive units in the league, but with Aaron Donald managing a rib injury, will they be able to put enough pressure on the Packers to pull an upset? Time will tell.
How to watch
Date: Saturday, January 16
Time: 4:35 p.m. ET
TV channel: FOX
Live stream: FOX Sports
Current odds for Rams vs. Packers
Point spread: Packers -6.5
Point total: 45.5
Moneyline: Rams +245, Packers -286