GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-2) at RAMS (1-3)
When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/radio: CBS (Ch. 2)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 229, 381
Line: Packers by 3.5
Notable injury designations
Packers: OUT: DL Devonte Wyatt (ankle); DOUBTFUL: WR Romeo Doubs (personal), WR Christian Watson (ankle); QUESTIONABLE: CB Jaire Alexander (groin), OL Elgton Jenkins (knee), TE Luke Musgrave (ankle), CB Carrington Valentine (ankle), OL Jordan Morgan (shoulder), LB Edgerrin Cooper (hip), DT Jonathan Ford (calf).
Rams: OUT: WR Cooper Kupp (ankle).
What’s at stake? The Rams are already in dangerous territory in regards to a potential playoff spot. Only three teams have started 1-3 and made the playoffs since the NFL expanded to a 17-game schedule in 2021. A loss to the Packers would put them deeper in the hole and could be detrimental to team morale heading into the bye week.
Who’s better? The Packers have the more complete team; quarterback Jordan Love returned last week after missing two games with an MCL sprain and has a nice group of weapons around him, from running back Josh Jacobs to receiver Jayden Reed to tight end Tucker Kraft. The defense is ninth in DVOA against the run and the Packers lead the NFL in interceptions forced, averaging two per game to start the season.
Matchup to watch: Rams QB Matthew Stafford vs. Green Bay secondary. As illustrated above, the Packers are ball hawks, and their forced turnovers have resulted in 104 points for the offense this season. Stafford threw one interception last week, and nearly a second if the defensive back hadn’t failed to reestablish himself in bounds. He will need to be more careful with the football against the opportunistic Packers to give the Rams the chance to win.
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Rams win if: They don’t turn the ball over. … RB Kyren Williams runs for more than 120 yards. … The pass rush sacks Love three times. … The Rams limit themselves to five penalties or fewer.
Fantasy sleeper: Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks. Reed is still Love’s primary read, but with Doubs and Watson doubtful for Sunday, Wicks figures to be the biggest beneficiary for the Packers.
Prediction: Packers 35, Rams 17. Beat reporter’s record: 2-2 for the season; 1-3 against the spread.