Packers beat Rams 24-19 off of Tucker Kraft’s 2 TD performance

On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers desperately needed a win over the banged-up Los Angeles Rams . Aside from receiver Romeo Doubs being suspended for skipping practices this week, the Packers were also entering the game with just a 2-2 record following their loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4, when they started that contest off with a 28-0 deficit.

This game, against the Rams, proved that the Packers held onto the second-half resilience that they've shown all season, despite the drama surrounding the team. Quarterback Jordan Love threw a pick-six on a sprint-out pass from his own end zone with just 2:02 remaining in the first half. Green Bay maintained composure, though, and drove the ball 42 yards over nine plays to attempt a 46-yard field goal with their kicker Brayden Narveson, who struggled throughout September. With Narveson hitting the field goal, the Packers were only down 13-10 at halftime.

The Rams turned the ball over twice to start the second half, both plays that ended with safety Xavier McKinney — who is playing at an All-Pro level in 2024 — with the ball in his hands. The first was a fumble, punched out by defensive end Kingsley Enagbare, and the second was an interception that McKinney made after playing a deep middle of the field zone, a play that is becoming routine for the fifth-year player.

The Packers scored touchdowns off of both of those turnovers. Both touchdowns were brought in by tight end Tucker Kraft, who finished the day with four receptions for 88 yards on five targets.

The Rams rallied late, scoring a touchdown, but failing on the two-point conversion attempt, with 3:30 left in the fourth quarter to cut Green Bay's lead to 24-19. The Packers went three and out on their final offensive drive of the game, giving Los Angeles the chance to regain the lead when they began their final drive with 2:57 left.

The Rams managed to push the ball 33 yards to the Green Bay 38-yard line before being faced with a fourth and five with 1:05 left on the clock. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford targeted tight end Colby Parkinson, who rookie safety Evan Williams covered on the play. Williams disrupted Parkinson enough at the catch point to force an incompletion, icing the win for the Packers.

Williams, notably, got the start at safety today as fellow rookie safety Javon Bullard moved into slot role for the first time this regular season. Keisean Nixon, the team's primary slot defender, started opposite of Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine, who rotated at outside cornerback, with star cornerback Jaire Alexander out due to injury.

Aside from that, the Packers' rotation of snaps was what should have been expected coming into the game. Kraft led the team in receiving while running back Josh Jacobs recorded 19 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Love completed 15 of 26 passes for 224 yards, the two touchdowns to Kraft and the pick-six.

Stafford dropped back 48 times and completed 29 passes against Green Bay, which struggled to generate pressure for most of the day. Stafford went down three times, two of which came at the hands of backup defensive tackle Karl Brooks — who saw his playing time increase due to former first-round pick Devonte Wyatt being out with an ankle injury.