The Green Bay Packers head west to visit the Los Angeles Rams Sunday. The Packers are 2-2 on the season while the Rams are 1-3. The Pack lost to the Minnesota Vikings 31-29 at Lambeau Field last week. Meanwhile, the Rams fell to the Chicago Bears 24-18. Here are the keys to victory for the Packers in their Week 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Packers lead the all-time series between these two teams 48-46-2 in the regular season. The series dates back to 1937 when the Rams were based in Cleveland. The Packers have won two of the three postseason meetings between the teams.

Here are the keys to victory for Sunday’s game in Los Angeles:

Packers Keys to Victory vs Rams, Number One: Establish the Running Game

Here’s the good news for the Packers: Green Bay has the second-best rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 174.5 yards per game on the ground. The Rams currently have the worst run defense in the league with an average of 165.5 yards allowed per game.

The Packers got away from running the ball last week, although falling behind 28-0 in the first half will do that.

This week, the Packers must give Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson the football early and often or at least to have good balance on the offense. I expect Jacobs will have a big game against the Rams.

This should help keep control of the football and give Jordan Love more options on his play calls. And if the Packers take a lead, it will help them hold onto the ball and limit the Rams comeback chances.

Number Two: Get Pressure on Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford may not have Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua available, but he’s still a dangerous passer, especially if he has time to throw.

The Packers pass rush has been underwhelming thus far except for their eight-sack performance against the Titans.

The Rams offensive line has allowed 13 sacks through four games and the Packers should be able to get some pressure on Stafford. The Rams are playing without their starting guards Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson. The Packers need to take advantage of that.

If Green Bay can’t get pressure early with just their four defensive linemen, then Jeff Hafley needs to mix in some blitz packages to help make that happen.

The Packers also need Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark to break out of their early season struggles and get more pressure on Stafford. Even if they don’t get sacks, they need to take Stafford off his game.

Packers Keys to Victory vs Rams, Number Three: Protect the Quarterback

Love’s injured knee is still not 100 percent and while his mobility should improve with each passing week, it’s still not where it usually is. That means the Packers will have to keep the Rams from getting to their quarterback.

Zach Tom has been playing very well on the right side. The Rams will probably try to move their top pass rushers around to get favorable matchups and avoid Tom’s side of the field.

Through four games, the Rams have recorded just seven sacks. The only player with more than one sack is Byron Young with two. While the Rams may try different blitz packages, they have struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks. The Packers need to keep it that way so Love can throw the ball downfield consistently.

Number Four: Keep the Rams Offense One Dimensional

The Rams have struggled to run the football this season and are averaging just 88.3 yards per game. The fact that they’ve trailed in many of their games is a part of it, but the Rams are a pass first team.

Kyren Williams leads the teams with 258 rushing yards, but he’s averaging just 3.5-yards per rush. No other player on the Rams has more than 10 carries or 51 yards and the team’s long run for the season is 14 yards.

The Packers need to make sure the Rams rushing attack doesn’t have a breakout game Sunday in LA. Clark and T.J. Slaton will have to clog up the middle especially if Devonte Wyatt won’t be able to play due to injury.

Keeping the Rams offense one dimensional and forcing obvious passing downs would really help the Packers in this game.

Packers Keys to Victory vs Rams, Number Five: Straighten Out the Kicking Game

The Packers have missed at least one kick in all four games this season although a penalty wiped out the miss in Week 3 so it’s unofficial. Brayden Narveson missed two field goals last week and the Pack ended up losing by just two points. Both kicks were wide right.

The conditions in Los Angeles should be good and Narveson should have no excuses. The Packers did audition two kickers on Tuesday, so Narveson knows his job is on the line. As of now, Matt LaFleur said they like the way Narveson kicks in practice, so they are sticking with him.

The Packers need to get the kicking game settled and now is the time to do it. If they don’t, there will likely be changes next week at kicker.

Number Six: Spread the Ball Around

The Packers will be without Christian Watson, but they still have lots of talent and depth at wide receiver. Jayden Reed has been spectacular, and Romeo Doubs is always reliable.

The Rams secondary has had its struggles. Tre’Davious White has struggled this season after returning from a horrible injury that jeopardized his career. He’s already been called for five penalties in four games and has been burned for four touchdowns. The Packers need to take advantage of his struggles throughout the game.

The Packers should also get Dontayvion Wicks back on track in this game and distribute the ball to their receivers and tight ends to keep the Rams secondary guessing.

Prediction:

There are many matchups that favor the Packers in this game, but they cannot afford to take the Rams lightly or to continue to beat themselves with penalties and sloppy play.

Love should continue to get into a groove and the running backs should have a field day. If the Packers don’t turn the ball over often, they should win this game, but it won’t be as easy as it looks on paper.

 

Packers 30, Rams 21

 

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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