{"id":192659,"date":"2024-10-05T09:00:27","date_gmt":"2024-10-05T13:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=192659"},"modified":"2024-10-04T17:27:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T21:27:48","slug":"can-packers-coach-defeat-old-boss-again-packers-vs-rams-week-5-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/10\/05\/can-packers-coach-defeat-old-boss-again-packers-vs-rams-week-5-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Packers Coach Defeat Old Boss Again?: Packers vs Rams Week 5 Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After four weeks of September football, both the Los Angeles Rams (1-3) and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/packers\/\" target=\"_self\">Green Bay Packers<\/a> (2-2) find themselves in a peculiar position neither <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/02\/03\/sean-mcvay-named-nfl-coach-year\/\" target=\"_self\">Sean McVay<\/a> nor Matt LaFleur would have envisioned heading into the regular season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With both NFC franchises bringing up the rear in each of their respective divisions due to unfortunate injuries that have kept key offensive weapons sidelined, both the Rams and Packers will look to avoid falling further in the standings as old coaching partners clash at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday, October 6th at 3:25 PM CST on CBS.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Can Green Bay Head Coach Get The Best Of Old Coaching Pal?: Packers @ Rams Week 5 Preview<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">History of the Head Coaches<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This Sunday, former offensive assistants of a Kyle Shanahan-led 2010 Washington group will join the field against each other for the 5th time as head coaches of their respective squads.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After leaving Washington in 2017 to join the Rams, Sean McVay hired Matt LaFleur as LA\u2019s offensive coordinator until LaFleur <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">was given<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> the opportunity to handle playcalling duties as head coach for Green Bay in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Since then, the green and gold remain undefeated against McVay\u2019s Rams in the four matchups they\u2019ve competed in, including the 2021 NFC Divisional <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Round<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> where the Packers advanced to the NFC Championship and fell short of another Super Bowl appearance to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/01\/24\/who-is-kyle-shanahan\/\" target=\"_self\">Shanahan\u2019s 49ers<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">LaFleur will look to keep his win streak against McVay alive with a healthy Jordan Love back in the lineup for the Pack after spending two weeks on the sideline with an MCL sprain.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rams Recent Loss<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Rams travel back to LA after an unexpected loss to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/09\/02\/caleb-williams-impact-on-the-bears-could-redefine-the-franchise\/\" target=\"_self\">rookie quarterback Caleb Williams<\/a> and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, a game that saw the <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rams<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> defense fail to force any turnovers and quarterback Matthew Stafford experience difficulties getting the ball to his wideouts in the red zone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Kyren Williams, who seemed to be the offense\u2019s only bright spot, nearly reached 100 yards rushing and scored LA&#8217;s only touchdown <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">on the day<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> early in the 4th quarter.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Pack Taking Punches<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Meanwhile, Green Bay is coming off a horrendous first-half performance against the Minnesota Vikings, where <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/03\/12\/sam-darnold-signs-contract-with-minnesota-vikings\/\" target=\"_self\">quarterback Sam Darnold<\/a> threw for three of four total Vikings touchdowns on the first five offensive drives before the Packers scored their first points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After a 28-0 deficit with roughly 5 minutes left in the half, some second-half adjustments saw the Packers crawl back into the game, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/recap?gameId=401671643\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">only to fall short 31-29 at home<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The match witnessed the green and gold commit:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Four <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">turnovers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Two <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">turnovers on downs<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Eight <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">penalties<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Three <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">punts<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Two <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">missed field goals by rookie kicker Brayden Narveson<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">So, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">what<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> should each team prioritize when <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">it comes to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> coming out on top and starting a trend in the right direction?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rams &#8211; Creativity in the Red Zone<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While Stafford <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">continues to remain<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> among the top passing yard leaders in the league without his <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/10\/01\/red-zone-woes-haunt-the-los-angeles-rams-vs-bears\/\" target=\"_self\">star wideouts Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp<\/a>, he has recorded just two touchdown passes in four games, which is second worst among quarterbacks who have started since Week 1. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">once<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> again leading the receiving core this week, the passing game will <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">continue to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> remain static if McVay takes the same approach he took against Chicago.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As far as<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> running the ball, Kyren Williams has not had trouble seeing the end zone as he leads the NFL with five touchdowns, alongside <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/07\/10\/derrick-henry-fantasy-football-2024-outlook-baltimore-ravens-running-back\/\" target=\"_self\">Derrick Henry<\/a> and Alvin Kamara, and holds a seven-game streak of reaching the painted area dating back to last season. Williams is relied upon heavily in the Rams offense, as he is fifth in the league in rushing attempts, but averages just 3.5 yards a carry behind an offensive line that ceases to stay healthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">McVay tends to lean towards a pass-heavy strategy that sees the Rams wideouts become responsible for gaining yards off <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">of<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> screen passes, where a healthy Kupp and Nacua thrive in providing blocks upfield. If the Rams want to <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">have success<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> in the red zone, McVay will need to utilize the weapons in his arsenal more creatively, Williams in particular, to put the offense in a position to execute on drives.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Packers &#8211; Exploiting a Weak Rams O-Line and D-Line<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Rams banged-up offensive line have struggled to protect their QB, allowing 13 sacks of Stafford, tied for the fourth most this season. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Meanwhile, Green Bay\u2019s front has been excellent in the pass rush and should continue <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">to put immense amounts of<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> pressure on Stafford.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With CB\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/12\/09\/jaire-alexander-is-a-top-five-cornerback\/\" target=\"_self\">Jaire Alexander<\/a> and Carrington Valentine questionable for Sunday\u2019s matchup, Green Bay will need to make Stafford\u2019s job stressful in the pocket in case neither <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is able to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> suit up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Offensively, the Packers <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">simply<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> need to take care of the football. After coming away without points on 11 of their 15 total drives against Minnesota, Jordan Love can not afford to give the Rams offense opportunities to score <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">easily<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> off of costly throwing errors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">LaFleur should <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">look to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> establish the run game early against a defense that has had trouble stopping the run, allowing a league-worst 165.5 rushing yards to opponents in 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Main Image: Kirby Lee &#8211; USA Today Sports<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can Green Bay&#8217;s head coach stay undefeated against his former coaching partner this Sunday? Here is the Packers @ Rams Week 5 Preview.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5320,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25,34],"tags":[3712,6067,9060,3566,404,1465],"class_list":["post-192659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-packers","category-rams","tag-jaire-alexander","tag-jordan-love","tag-kyren-williams","tag-matt-lafleur","tag-matthew-stafford","tag-sean-mcvay"],"modified_by":"Isaac Zuniga","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192659\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}