Packers Triumph Over Rams in Thrilling 24-19 Comeback
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) – Jordan Love bounced back from the first pick-6 of his career to throw a pair of touchdown passes to Tucker Kraft in the second half as the Green Bay Packers rallied for a 24-19 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
The Packers trailed 13-7 late in the second quarter after Jaylen McCollough intercepted Love’s off-balance attempt to throw the ball away and ran it in from 4 yards. However, Green Bay (3-2) scored on its next three drives and capitalized on a pair of turnovers to beat the Rams (1-4) for the ninth time in their last ten regular-season meetings.
Love, a California native from Bakersfield, completed 15 of 26 passes for 224 yards in his second start since missing two games due to a knee injury.
Josh Jacobs contributed with 19 carries for 73 yards and scored his first touchdown with the Packers.
Kraft excelled with four receptions for a career-best 88 yards. Two plays after Xavier McKinney recovered a fumble by Rams running back Kyren Williams and returned it 7 yards to the Green Bay 30, Love connected with Kraft for a stunning 66-yard touchdown to give the Packers a 17-13 lead.
Kraft made an impressive play, catching the ball at the Rams’ 49, stiff-arming cornerback Darious Williams at the 30, and evading a diving tackle attempt near the left sideline by Quentin Lake at the 20 before reaching the end zone.
McKinney became the first player since the 1970 merger to intercept a pass in each of his first five games with a team, while Kraft capped a seven-play drive by scoring from 7 yards out, marking the first two-touchdown game of his career.
Matthew Stafford finished the game 29 of 45 for 260 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Kyren Williams had 102 yards rushing on 22 carries, scoring for the eighth consecutive game.
With 3:30 remaining, Stafford’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson pulled the Rams within 24-19 after the 2-point conversion attempt failed.
The Rams forced Green Bay to punt on the ensuing possession and took over on their own 29 with 2:57 remaining. Los Angeles drove to the Green Bay 38, but Stafford’s connection with Colby Parkinson on fourth-and-5 fell short with 1:01 left on the clock.
After both teams went three-and-out on their opening drives, Jacobs scored on a 2-yard run around the right end. The touchdown was set up by a remarkable 53-yard pass from Love to Reed, demonstrating Love’s strength in tight situations.
The Rams evened the score five minutes into the second quarter when Williams scored from 1 yard, completing a 13-play drive. Williams now holds the longest touchdown streak by a Rams running back since Greg Bell scored in ten straight during the 1988 and ’89 seasons.
Love’s first pick-6 came on his 761st pass. On third-and-12 at the Packers’ 8, he was pressured by Byron Young’s unblocked blitz, causing him to scramble. His desperation throw was intercepted by McCollough, resulting in a defensive touchdown for the Rams, marking their first since Cobie Durant’s 86-yard interception return against Denver on Christmas Day in 2022.
In injury news, Packers cornerback Robert Rochell (stinger) missed the second quarter and part of the third but returned to play.
The Packers will host Arizona next Sunday, while the Rams have a bye before hosting Las Vegas on October 20.