Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers Match Preview

Los Angeles Rams travel to Wisconsin this weekend to take on the Green Bay Packers in what should be a classic NFL play-off game. Aaron Rodgers and his Packers are the best offense in the league, and they’ll be up against the best defense in the league in the shape of the Rams and Aaron Donald. That looks like being the kind of high-quality match up that will get even the most jaded football fan excited. Read on to see where we think the key clashes and the best betting value can be found!

Packers offense versus Rams defense

The key stat for us ahead of this game is that the Packers finished top of the NFL on offense, scoring an average of 31.8 points per game, and the Rams finished top on defense, allowing a miserly 18.5 points per game. A big part of the Rams’ defensive strength is based on tackle Aaron Rodgers, who might be in line for his third NFL Defensive Player of the Year in four seasons. This season he produced 13.5 sacks in the regular season and also forced four fumbles. He produced another two sacks in last weekend’s play-off win over Seattle.

Up against Donald, though, is Rodgers, who is coming off one of the greatest quarterback seasons in NFL history. He is a shoe-in for the MVP award, based on the All Pro voting, and led the league in completion percentage, touchdown percentage and interception percentage – a feat achieved only once before in NFL history, by Steve Young in 1992. Rodgers completed 372 of 526 passes this season, for 4299 yards and 48 touchdowns. He has been intercepted just five times.

LA have some injury issues for Sunday. While Donald is expected to play, he has a rib injury that could hamper his performance. Rams quarterback Jared Goff is also trying to shake off a thumb problem after undergoing surgery recently. His back up, john Wolford, is also struggling with a neck injury. That causes something of a headache for head coach Sean McVay.

Our Pick: Packers to win at half-time and full-time

Our pick for this game comes from 888Sport, where you can find odds of -133 on Green Bay winning at half-time and full-time. We think that Rodgers will have enough quality and firepower to sweep away even this powerful Rams defense, with Donald’s injury likely to prove important. The Rams’ lack of a fit quarterback will cost them dear, and we anticipate that the Packers will enjoy a pretty comfortable win in the familiar, if cold, surroundings of Lambeau Field.

Our pick: Packers to win at half-time and full-time @ -133 with 888Sport