Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats (October 6, 2024)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Xavier McKinney continued his interception streak, Tucker Kraft scored twice, and the Green Bay Packers overcame a second-quarter pick-six to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 24-19 at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
The Packers (3-2) won despite being outgained 370-323 in total yards and converting just one third down all game. Los Angeles (1-4) dropped its fourth straight contest, all by one possession.
“When you can come on the road and win in this league, that’s huge,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur. “I’m proud of how our guys responded to adversity throughout the game.”
Table of Contents
McKinney’s Takeaways Prove Decisive
Safety Xavier McKinney made game-changing plays for the fifth consecutive week, recovering a Kyren Williams fumble and intercepting Matthew Stafford in the third quarter. Both takeaways led directly to Packers touchdowns.
McKinney’s interception marked his fifth in five games with Green Bay. LaFleur praised his new safety’s impact after the game.
“He has a remarkable ability to find the football,” LaFleur said of McKinney, who earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance.
Kraft Steps Up With Watson, Doubs Out
With Green Bay missing receivers Christian Watson (ankle) and Romeo Doubs (suspension), tight end Tucker Kraft delivered a breakout performance, catching four passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
Kraft’s 66-yard score in the third quarter came just two plays after McKinney’s fumble recovery and gave the Packers their first lead since the opening quarter. He added a 7-yard touchdown later in the period following McKinney’s interception.
“We made some adjustments at halftime for certain situations,” Kraft said in postgame comments. The second-year tight end had just five catches for 42 yards in the previous four games combined.
Love Shows Resilience After Critical Error
Jordan Love completed 15 of 26 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns and one interception that Rams safety Jaylen McCollough returned 4 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
The interception came with Love scrambling in his own end zone. Under pressure from unblocked linebacker Byron Young, Love attempted an ill-advised underhand throw that McCollough snagged at the 4-yard line.
“I made a bad decision,” Love acknowledged after the game. “I should have thrown it at the ground.”
The third-year quarterback bounced back impressively, completing nine consecutive passes after the mistake and leading scoring drives on the next three possessions.
Both Teams Navigate Key Absences
The Packers played without top cornerback Jaire Alexander (groin) in addition to Watson and Doubs on offense. Rookie safety Evan Williams, who played every defensive snap, broke up Matthew Stafford’s fourth-down pass to Colby Parkinson with 1:01 remaining to secure the victory.
Los Angeles again missed star receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle), while cornerback Tre’Davious White was a healthy scratch due to performance issues. Jordan Whittington led Rams receivers with seven catches for 89 yards, and Kyren Williams rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown despite his costly fumble.
Statistical Dominance Doesn’t Translate to Victory
The Rams controlled many statistical categories, including:
- 76 plays to Green Bay’s 58
- 24 first downs to the Packers’ 19
- 32:41 time of possession to Green Bay’s 27:19
- 50% third-down conversion rate (8-of-16) to the Packers’ 12.5% (1-of-8)
However, Green Bay capitalized on explosive plays and turnovers. Jayden Reed’s 53-yard reception set up Josh Jacobs’ 2-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and the Packers scored touchdowns after both of McKinney’s takeaways.
“We’ve moved the ball nice between the 20s, we just haven’t scored enough points,” Stafford said after the game, a recurring theme for the Rams this season.
Game Flow: Momentum Shifts Throughout
The Packers jumped ahead 7-0 on Jacobs’ touchdown, capping a 96-yard drive. Los Angeles responded with Williams’ 1-yard score to tie the game before McCollough’s interception return gave the Rams a 13-7 lead after a blocked extra point.
Packers kicker Brayden Narveson hit a 46-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, cutting the deficit to 13-10.
The third quarter belonged to Green Bay. Kraft’s two touchdowns, set up by McKinney’s takeaways, pushed the Packers ahead 24-13.
Demarcus Robinson caught a 1-yard touchdown from Stafford with 3:34 remaining, but the subsequent two-point conversion failed. The Packers’ defense held firm on the Rams’ final possession.
Statistical Breakdown
Quarterback Performance
| Player | Comp-Att | Yards | TD | INT | Rating | Sacks-Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Love (GB) | 15-26 | 224 | 2 | 1 | 95.7 | 2-22 |
| Matthew Stafford (LA) | 29-45 | 260 | 1 | 1 | 78.0 | 3-24 |
Rushing Leaders
| Player | Team | Attempts | Yards | Avg | TD | Long | Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyren Williams | LA | 22 | 102 | 4.6 | 1 | 30 | 1 |
| Josh Jacobs | GB | 19 | 73 | 3.8 | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| Blake Corum | LA | 5 | 25 | 5.0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| Emanuel Wilson | GB | 6 | 24 | 4.0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| Jayden Reed | GB | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
Receiving Statistics
| Player | Team | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Whittington | LA | 10 | 7 | 89 | 12.7 | 0 | 31 |
| Tucker Kraft | GB | 5 | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 2 | 66 |
| Jayden Reed | GB | 6 | 4 | 78 | 19.5 | 0 | 53 |
| Tutu Atwell | LA | 10 | 6 | 58 | 9.7 | 0 | 24 |
| Colby Parkinson | LA | 13 | 7 | 52 | 7.4 | 0 | 9 |
| Demarcus Robinson | LA | 5 | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 1 | – |
| Josh Jacobs | GB | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 0 | 21 |
| Dontayvion Wicks | GB | 7 | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 0 | – |
Defensive Standouts
| Player | Team | Tackles | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | INT | PD | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quay Walker | GB | 9 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kobie Turner | LA | 5 | 2.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Quentin Lake | LA | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Evan Williams | GB | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier McKinney | GB | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Karl Brooks | GB | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaylen McCollough | LA | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Team Comparison
| Statistic | Green Bay Packers | Los Angeles Rams |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 323 | 370 |
| Passing Yards | 224 | 260 |
| Rushing Yards | 126 | 134 |
| First Downs | 19 | 24 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 1/8 (12.5%) | 8/16 (50.0%) |
| 4th Down Efficiency | 0/0 (0%) | 2/4 (50.0%) |
| Total Plays | 58 | 76 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.6 | 4.9 |
| Penalties | 6-34 | 5-30 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of Possession | 27:19 | 32:41 |
| Red Zone TDs | 2/3 (66.7%) | 2/3 (66.7%) |
| Final Score | 24 | 19 |
Looking Forward
The Packers’ victory demonstrated their ability to overcome adversity and win on the road despite missing key contributors. The emergences of Kraft and McKinney provide valuable depth as they navigate injuries.
For the Rams, dropping to 1-4 creates a significant playoff hurdle. While they’ve been competitive in all their losses, their inability to finish games remains a concern, particularly in the absence of Kupp.
The Rams would continue to struggle with offensive consistency the following week against the Minnesota Vikings, while also making adjustments to their secondary after benching White in favor of newcomers like McCollough, who made his first career interception on Sunday.
FAQ’s About Green Bay Packers vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats
What were the turning points in this game?
The third quarter proved decisive. McKinney’s recovery of Williams’ fumble led to Kraft’s 66-yard touchdown, giving Green Bay a 17-13 lead. Later, McKinney’s interception set up Kraft’s second touchdown to extend the margin to 24-13.
How significant was Jordan Love’s pick-six?
It could have derailed the Packers’ offense, especially coming on a 3rd-and-12 from their own 8-yard line with Love scrambling in the end zone. However, Love responded by leading scoring drives on the next three possessions, showing impressive mental fortitude.
Which players benefited most from the absences of star players?
Kraft seized his opportunity with Watson and Doubs sidelined, while rookie safety Evan Williams played every defensive snap in Alexander’s absence and made the game-sealing pass breakup. For the Rams, Whittington (89 yards) and tight end Parkinson (7 catches, 13 targets) saw increased roles with Kupp out.
How did the Packers win despite converting just one third down?
Big plays and turnovers were the difference. Reed’s 53-yard catch and Kraft’s 66-yard touchdown provided explosive scoring opportunities, while the Packers scored 14 points off McKinney’s two takeaways.
What does this loss mean for the Rams’ season?
At 1-4 with all four losses by one possession, the Rams face an uphill climb to playoff contention. Their struggles to finish games despite moving the ball effectively has become a concerning pattern, one they would continue to work on against division rival Arizona the following week.
