LOS ANGELES – A valiant effort by the Packers came up short on Sunday at the LA Coliseum, as the Rams remained unbeaten with a 29-27 victory over Green Bay.
The Packers had a one-point lead late, but a poor punt and a key run by Rams RB Todd Gurley set up the go-ahead field goal. Packers RB Ty Montgomery then fumbled the ensuing kickoff with two minutes left, and the Packers got no last chance.
Gurley finished with 114 yards on 25 carries for the Rams, with two long runs in the game being the difference-makers after the Packers held him in check most of the day. Gurley also had six catches for 81 yards, including a 30-yard TD. Rams QB Jared Goff was 19-of-35 for 295 yards and three scores for a 111.0 passer rating.
For the Packers, QB Aaron Rodgers was 18-of-30 for 286 yards and a TD for a 102.9 rating. WR Davante Adams had five grabs for 133 yards, and RB Aaron Jones had 12 carries for 86 yards, including a 33-yard TD.
With the loss, the Packers fell to 3-3-1 on the season.
Here's a recap of all the action:
Packers lead 7-0 after one
The Rams deferred upon winning the coin toss and the Packers got the ball first. A promising drive started with back-to-back runs by RB Aaron Jones for 20 yards. A 10-yard pass to WR Randall Cobb picked up another first down, and an 8-yard run by Jones set up third-and-2 from the LA 37. But QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked by LB Cory Littleton, forcing the Packers to punt.
The Rams got an initial first down on a 6-yard pass to TE Tyler Higbee to convert on third-and-2, but on the next third down, DL Kenny Clark sacked a scrambling QB Jared Goff, and the Rams punted. RB Todd Gurley carried four times for 14 yards on the possession.
The Packers then struck. On third-and-5 from their own 30, a 48-yard pass to WR Davante Adams, who beat CB Marcus Peters down the sideline, was followed by a 21-yard strike to TE Jimmy Graham to get inside the 1. On second down, RB Jamaal Williams plowed in for the score, and the Packers were on the board.
Backed up to their own 11, the Rams got out of the hole with a 19-yard pass to WR Robert Woods. A run and reception by Gurley picked up 10 more, but then LB Blake Martinez sacked Goff on third-and-10, and the Rams punted.
The Packers came right back. A 23-yard pass to rookie WR Equanimeous St. Brown off play-action got the ball across midfield, and then Rodgers scrambled for 5 and Jones ran for 10 to the LA 30. Two runs by Jones gained 5 and set up third-and-5 as the quarter expired.
Packers lead at halftime, 10-8
Jones ran for 2 yards on the opening play of the second quarter, coming up short, and K Mason Crosby was good from 41 yards out for a 10-0 Packers lead.
An offside call on the Packers and a 15-yard pass to Woods got the Rams out near midfield. But on third-and-9, the Packers got their third sack of the first half, and the second by Clark, to force another punt.
The Packers went three-and-out, as a third-down pass deep over the middle for a double-covered Graham was incomplete. The Rams got it back on their own 38.
After two Gurley runs gained 9, Martinez tackled Gurley for a 5-yard loss to make it fourth down. The Rams faked the punt, with P Johnny Hekker completing a pass to CB Sam Shields for 12 yards and a first down across midfield.
CB Jaire Alexander broke up a deep ball in the end zone for WR Brandin Cooks, the first of three straight incomplete passes leading to a punt. The Rams did punt this time, and Hekker knocked it out of bounds on the Green Bay 4.
Passes of 5 yards to WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling and 18 yards to Cobb got the Packers moving. Williams was tackled for a loss on first down, though, forcing a Packers punt. P JK Scott's 55-yard boot and immediate tackle by S Josh Jones put the Rams on their own 20.
A 22-yard pass to WR Josh Reynolds converted on third-and-5 for the Rams, but Alexander broke up his third pass of the half on third-and-10, and the Rams punted. Hekker pinned the Packers on their own 1-yard line, with Shields downing the ball for LA with 2:54 left in the half.
On first down, the Rams tackled Jones in the end zone for a safety, and LA was on the board, trailing 10-2.
After the free kick, the Rams got a first down on a 9-yard pass to Gurley. An incomplete pass to Cooks was changed to a completion, good for 26 yards, after a Rams challenge, putting the ball on the Green Bay 35. Another replay reversal on a juggling catch down the sideline by Gurley was good for 32 yards to the Green Bay 3.
Gurley ran it to the 1 and then was stuffed on second down before Goff found Reynolds for the TD with 21 seconds left in the half. LA went for two points and the tie, but the Packers stuffed Gurley on a run up the middle, and Green Bay still led, 10-8.
Packers trailing Rams, 23-20, after three
The second half started with the Packers' defense getting a three-and-out. CB Kevin King broke up a deep ball for Cooks on third down.
The Packers got moving on a 9-yard pass to Adams and a 4-yard run by Jones. Cobb caught consecutive passes for 12 yards total, and WR Geronimo Allison added a 14-yard grab. After an 8-yard pass to St. Brown, the Packers stalled, with DT Aaron Donald sacking Rodgers on third down. Crosby came on and was good from 53 yards out, pushing the Packers' lead to 13-8.
An 11-yard run by Gurley and a 22-yard pass to TE Gerald Everett on third-and-10 got the Rams across midfield. A 7-yards scramble by Goff and 5-yard run by Gurley made it first down on the Green Bay 30, and a dumpoff pass to Gurley over the middle went the distance for the score, and the Rams had the lead for the first time. The Rams went for two points again, and the pass for Gurley was good, putting the Rams up 16-13.
The Packers went three-and-out, and the Rams got it right back on their own 34.
A 17-yard pass to Cooks got the Rams across midfield right away, and a 12-yard pass to Woods converted on third-and-3. LB Kyler Fackrell sacked Goff on first down for a 4-yard loss, and an illegal shift penalty wiped out a big pass play to Everett. But Goff moved the chains anyway on second-and-19 with a pass to Woods, down to the Green Bay 20.
Two plays later, Goff found Reynolds open over the middle for the touchdown, and the Rams led, 23-13, with 1:50 left in the third.
The Packers converted on third-and-9 with a 41-yard pass to Adams to get into LA territory, and Jones took a handoff on a draw play up the middle and went 33 yards for the score. Crosby's PAT brought the Packers within 23-20 with 13 seconds left in the third.
Packers fall agonizingly short in LA, 29-27
An 8-yard run by Gurley and 5-yard pass to Woods moved the chains for LA. Then Goff found Cooks open on a deep corner route for 32 yards to the Green Bay 30.
On third-and-7 from the 27, a pass to Gurley came up short, and K Greg Zuerlein was good from 43 yards out, giving the Rams a 26-20 lead with 11:39 to go.
A 15-yard pass to Adams got the Packers moving again, and a 20-yard grab by Adams moved the ball across midfield. Two plays later, Rodgers found Valdes-Scantling wide open down the sideline for a 40-yard touchdown. Valdes-Scantling beat CB Troy Hill with an inside move and was all alone. Crosby's PAT put the Packers back in front, 27-26.
An 8-yard run by Gurley and a defensive holding penalty on Clark put the ball on the LA 40. Goff lost four on a busted play, and then an incomplete pass set up third-and-14. LB Clay Matthews sacked a scrambling Goff at the line of scrimmage, and the Rams punted.
Taking over on their own 21 with 6:49 left, the Packers called a timeout before third-and-6. Donald busted right up the middle to sack Rodgers, forcing the Packers to punt. A poor kick by Scott went only 25 yards and put the Rams on the Green Bay 40 with 5:20 left.
After another pass breakup by Alexander, the Rams faced third-and-6. Gurley broke free for a 23-yard run to the Green Bay 13. After a holding call pushed the Rams back, they had third-and-16 from the 19. A short Gurley run brought up fourth down, and Zuerlein was good from 34 yards out to put the Rams back on top, 29-27, with 2:05 to go.
Packers RB Ty Montgomery fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the Green Bay 21, and the Rams recovered. Gurley ran the ball down to the 4-yard line and went down on purpose so the Rams could run out the clock.
