The Green Bay Packers got two touchdowns from Tucker Kraft and two turnovers by Xavier McKinney to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 24-19. The Packers defense stopped the Rams in the closing minute to preserve the win and snuff out the Matthew Stafford’s comeback attempt. The win improved the Packers record to 3-2 while the Rams dropped to 1-4. Here are 10 things we learned in the Packers 24-19 win over the Rams in Week 5:

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Rams, Number One: Xavier McKinney Is an Elite Playmaker

McKinney made his fifth interception of the season and recovered a fumble. The team’s new safety may be the best free agent signing the Packers have had since Reggie White back in 1993.

McKinney’s big plays led directly to the team’s win. The turnovers stopped drives by the Rams and led to two touchdowns by the Packers on the ensuing drives. The fumble was forced by Kingsley Enagbare who continues to make big plays without receiving much fanfare.

As of now, McKinney has one interception in each of his first five games with the Packers. No player has done that in the NFL since the merger with the AFL back in 1970. McKinney has proven to be a playmaker and a difference maker on a defense that relies on big plays because it struggles to stop opposing offenses from moving the football.

Number Two: Tucker Kraft Had Another Strong Performance

Kraft continues to make big plays. He scored two touchdowns for Green Bay against the Rams including a 66-yard effort that came on a short pass that Kraft turned into a long scoring play.

Running with the ball after the catch is a specialty of Kraft’s. He has also developed into a strong blocker on both run and pass plays.

In five games, Kraft has more touchdown passes than he had all of last season. He’s on pace right now for more than 50 catches and 10 touchdowns and has taken his game to the next level.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Rams, Number Three: Jordan Love Recovered from His First Career Pick Six

Jordan Love threw a terrible pass that the Rams Jaylen McCollough intercepted and returned four yards for a touchdown. It was the first pick six thrown by Love in his NFL career.

Love’s throw looked like a cross between the worst of early Brett Favre and what we’ve seen earlier this year from Tennessee’s Will Levis. He needed to throw the ball away sooner and with more force. It was an ill-advised throw and that is being kind.

Love rebounded from this mistake to complete his next nine passes and that included his two touchdowns.

The Packers young signal caller didn’t get rattled by the mistake and led the team to victory. His 12-yard scramble on 3rd-and-12 was a clutch play, bad knee and all. The resilience Love showed was encouraging and hopefully he learns from the pick six.

Number Four: Jayden Reed Stepped Up

With Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs out of the lineup, Jayden Reed stepped up and further established himself as the team’s number one receiver.

Reed caught four passes for 78 yards including a deep 53-yard bomb that he caught despite being surrounded by three defenders. That set up the Packers first score.

The Michigan State star also ran the ball twice for 19 yards on end arounds.

The Packers know they can count on Reed to be consistent and make big plays. He has taken a big step forward in his second season.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Rams, Number Five: The Run Defense Struggled

The Rams offense struggled to run the football effectively this season at least until they met the Packers on Sunday. The Packers defense allowed the Rams to run for 134 yards on 28 carries, an average of 4.8-yards per rush.

Kyren Williams led the way with 102 yards on 22 carries. Too often, defenders penetrated the line of scrimmage but took themselves out of position to make a tackle of missed the tackle, resulting in sizeable gains.

The run defense needs to be better for the Packers to win consistently.

Number Six: The Packers Didn’t Miss a Kick

Brayden Narveson made all three of his extra points and his only field goal try of the game. The kick was a big one, a 46-yard effort right before the half which pulled the Packers to within 13-10 at the break.

This had to be a confidence builder for Narveson who has struggled thus far this season. He certainly will keep his job for at least another week and hopes to continue to be consistent.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Rams, Number Seven: Karl Brooks Stepped Up

Devonte Wyatt missed the game due to the injury he suffered last week so the Packers needed a defensive lineman to step up and make plays. Karl Brooks did just that. The second-year man recorded 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits.

Brooks saw a bigger role with Wyatt unavailable and he made the most of it.

Number Eight: The Defense Needs to Blitz to Get Pressure

For the second straight game, the Packers struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks when they only rushed their four defensive linemen.

In the second half, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley started to blitz his linebackers and that helped create some pressure on Stafford.

Edgerrin Cooper continues to make plays when he’s on the field. The rookie recorded a sack and two quarterback hits. His sack was huge as it took the Rams out of field goal range.

Hafley will have to go to blitzes earlier in the game going forward if the front four can’t get consistent pressure on the quarterback.

Ten Things We Learned from the Packers Win Over the Rams, Number Nine: Josh Jacobs Was Effective

Josh Jacobs resumed his role as the team’s number one back, carrying the football 19 times compared to six for backup Emanuel Wilson.

Jacobs was effective, gaining 73 yards and scoring his first touchdown as a Packer in the first quarter. He also caught one pass for 21 yards which gave him 94 total yards on the game.

It was good to see Jacobs bounce back after his struggles last week against the Vikings in pass protection.

Number Ten: Third Down Was a Struggle

The Packers struggled on third down on both sides of the ball. On offense, the scramble by Love was the team’s only third down conversion of the game. The team went just 1-for-8 on third down on offense while the Rams were 8-of-16. Los Angeles also went 2-of-4 on fourth down conversions.

The two stops on fourth down were critical to the Packers eventual victory. Offensively, the team relied heavily on big plays but had trouble sustaining long drives due to their third down difficulties.

This has to be fixed going forward or the team will struggle to win consistently, especially against better opponents.

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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