Rams vs Packers Preview & Free Pick [December 19th 2022]

LA Rams (4-9) at Green Bay (5-8)
When: Monday, December 19th 2022
Where: Lambeau Field,
Green Bay, WI
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Green Bay -9.5/41

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When the NFL schedule was released in the Spring, this Week 15 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers looked like one of the best games of the year. Well, fast-forward 15 weeks and it’s almost a meaningless affair, at least for Los Angeles. Green Bay still has hopes of making the postseason, but probably need to win out. These teams met in Week 12 last year and it was Green Bay who came out 36-28 winners at home. That didn’t affect the Rams however, as they still went on to win the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes and also ran for a score despite barely practicing that week due to injury. The Rams outscored Green Bay 11-0 in the fourth quarter, but their comeback fell short. Matthew Stafford went 21-of-38 for 302 yards with three touchdown passes but lost a fumble to set up a touchdown and threw a pick six. Green Bay is 8-0 against the spread in the past eight meetings.

Nothing has gone right for the Rams this season, who have been plagued by injuries, poor play and probably a bit of a Super Bowl hangover. The defending champs snapped a six-game losing streak on Dec. 8 thanks to an improbable comeback led by Baker Mayfield, who just joined the team two days prior. Mayfield rallied his new team from a 16-3 deficit late in the fourth quarter. He capped the comeback by finding Van Jefferson for a 23-yard TD strike with 10 seconds left for the 17-16 win. The Packers needed 18 fourth quarter points last Sunday to defeat the Chicago Bears 28-19. With a win on Monday, Green Bay would be only 1.5 games behind either the Washington Commanders or New York Giants. The Rams are 7-point underdogs in this game with a total of 39.5.

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Mayfield engineered a 98-yard TD drive to beat the Raiders last week and it was the longest go-ahead TD drive that began in the final two minutes over the last 45 seasons. Mayfield is 0-22 in his career as a starting quarterback when trailing by at last 13 points but 2-1 off the bench in the same scenario. He came in for the injured John Wolford in the first half and finished 22-of-35 for 230 yards. With more practice time this week, Mayfield should be able to find success against the Packers 18th-ranked defense. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald missed his second in a row and will not play Monday either. The Rams are 13-3-1 against the spread in their last 17 December games.

There’s talk in Green Bay that once the team is eliminated, a banged-up Aaron Rodgers will be shut down and former first-round pick Jordan Love will get a good look. Rodgers has zero 300-yard passing games this year and is close to retiring or maybe being traded to a contender. Rodgers passed for 182 yards and a touchdown without an interception on 18-of-31 completions in Week 14’s road win over the Chicago Bears. AJ Dillon rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Rookie wideout Christian Watson has been on fire with seven TD catches, all coming in the past four games. The win over Chicago was Green Bay’s 787th in the regular season, breaking a tie with the Bears for the most in NFL history. Rodgers has 15 career touchdown passes and three interceptions – including the postseason – against the Rams.

These are two bad football teams right now, but I’ll take the points with the Rams. Mayfield isn’t elite, but he can make some plays and spark his team like he did last week. Green Bay’s defense has allowed at least 27 points in three of their last four games.

Week 15 NFL Staff Selections

Pick: Rams +7

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