5 takeaways from Packers’ down-to-the-wire win over Rams

3. The defense rose to the occasion in other moments, too.

On the Rams’ second drive of the game, with the Packers already leading 7-0, they went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line but Green Bay got the stop.

Also late in the second quarter, the Rams were in field-goal range until linebacker Quay Walker and Williams combined for a 6-yard loss on a pitch to running back Kyren Williams (22 carries, 102 yards). Two plays later, rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper got a sack and the Rams punted.

Those missed points certainly mattered as the game wore on.

Williams played the bulk of the game at safety after the Packers switched up their secondary in cornerback Jaire Alexander‘s absence. Fellow rookie Javon Bullard moved to the slot, with veteran corner Keisean Nixon shifting outside, while cornerbacks Eric Stokes and Carrington Valentine (returning from injury) also got their share of snaps.

“He’s another guy that’s very smart, instinctive, has a knack for the football,” LaFleur said of Williams.

“Right now we have a good problem. We have a lot of people we feel can play in the secondary for us, and the challenge is when we get everybody healthy, how do we get them all involved?”

4. The first half was some tough sledding.

Running back Josh Jacobs (19 carries, 73 yards) got his first touchdown as a Packer in the first quarter, set up by a 53-yard bomb to receiver Jayden Reed that he somehow caught with three defenders around him.

“Not a great decision on my part, but when you have a playmaker like J-Reed he’s going to go up and make you right,” said Love, who finished 15-of-26 for 224 yards.

Other than that, though, the offense went three-and-out three times in the first half, and Love threw a pick-six when he was trying to avoid going down in the end zone for a safety. His off-balance throw was intercepted by safety Jaylen McCollough at the 4-yard line for an easy score to give the Rams a 13-7 lead.

“Bad decision,” Love said, matter of factly. “It’s all about how you respond and bounce back.”

To his credit, he did respond, driving the Packers for a field goal right before halftime to make it 13-10.