Green Bay Packers safety Rudy Ford stops Rams running back Cam Akers during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson makes a catch for a first down between Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage, left, and cornerback Rasul Douglas during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers linebacker Preston Smith sacks Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers linebacker Preston Smith sacks Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers linebacker Preston Smith celebrates a sack during the first half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rams offensive lineman Brian Allen heads to the locker room after an injury during the first half of their game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon is tackled by Rams linebacker Ernest Jones during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws a pass during the first half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones runs past Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner, left, during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs picks up a first down in front of Rams cornerback Troy Hill during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers linebacker Preston Smith sacks Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers linebacker Kingsley Enagbare elebrates a sack during the first half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Referee Shawn Hochuli talks with Rams defensive tackle Michael Hoecht after a scuffle on a field-goal attempt during the first half of their game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rams cornerback Robert Rochell stops the Green Bay Packers’ Keisean Nixon on a kickoff return during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, center, is stopped by Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, left, during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates a touchdown by running back AJ Dillon (28) during the first half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rams head coach Sean McVay talks with quarterback Baker Mayfield during the first half of their game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield throws the ball downfield during the first half of their game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield fumbles as he’s hit by Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) during the first half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. The Rams recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rams head coach Sean McVay questions a call during the second half of their game against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson signals for a first down during the second half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon celebrates a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon celebrates a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers throws over Rams defensive tackle Greg Gaines during the second half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones cuts away from Rams defensive back Taylor Rapp during the second half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The Green Bay Packers’ Keisean Nixon is hit by Rams defensive tackle Michael Hoecht as he returns a punt during the second half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon carries the ball during the second half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones runs a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones dives for a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones dives for a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Rams wide receiver Ben Skowronek tries to tackle Green Bay Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas after an interception during the second half on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers safety Adrian Amos, left, recovers a fumble by Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas (29) following an interception during the second half of their game against the Rams on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
A fan dressed as Santa Clause watches the first half of the game between the Rams and the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Rams coach Sean McVay kept his right hand in his pocket while he held his play sheet with his left in an attempt to stay warm and ignite his offense against the Green Bay Packers in frigid conditions at Lambeau Field.
McVay shifted from staring at his sheet to watching Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers quickly move down the field for another touchdown drive against his Rams’ defense. The Rams were down three scores and it might have felt like more in 15-degree weather with a wind chill of 7 degrees. But fighting against the cold and a hot Rodgers was probably the only way for quarterback Baker Mayfield to top his memorable Rams debut.
After a wild sequence with each team committing a turnover in a three-play span, Mayfield was back on the field attempting another comeback. But the prime-time magic never occurred Monday night, as the Packers defeated the Rams, 24-12. Mayfield and the Rams returned to reality 11 days after their entertaining comeback victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Rams aren’t heading to the playoffs the season after winning the Super Bowl, and that’s been the reality for a few weeks, but it became official with the loss to the Packers.
Mayfield was sacked five times and hit nine times, as the Rams dropped to 4-10, tying the 1999 Denver Broncos for the most losses by a defending Super Bowl champion with three games left.
“It’s weird,” Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey said about being eliminated from postseason contention. “Since I’ve been traded here in 2019, we’ve had a winning record every year, so that’s kind of what you expect. That’s like our thing here.”
The Rams will miss the playoffs for the first since 2019, when they finished 9-7 and acquired Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars in a midseason trade. That was also the year after McVay helped guide the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance, which was a loss to the New England Patriots. The Rams’ prior losing season occurred in 2016, the year before McVay arrived and changed the culture of the organization.
“This has been a real struggle in a lot of instances,” McVay said. “A lot of adversity we’ve gone through. I think what we’ve seen from our guys is they’re going to continue to battle. They’re gonna finish up the last three games the right way, with the right mindset and mentality.”
The Rams have upcoming games at SoFi Stadium against the Denver Broncos and the Chargers before concluding the 2022 season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.
“Every year is different,” Rams safety Nick Scott said. “This year has been an uphill battle from the start.”
The Rams continued to battle Monday night after Ramsey stripped the ball from Packers running back Aaron Jones two plays after Mayfield threw an interception to cornerback Rasul Douglas. Jones connected with Rodgers for a 7-yard touchdown to give the Packers a 24-6 advantage with 2:31 left in the third quarter.
With the 18-point deficit, the Rams answered quickly and recorded their first touchdown Monday night after Mayfield found tight end Tyler Higbee for an 8-yard touchdown to trim the deficit to 24-12 with 22 seconds left in the third quarter. Rams kicker Matt Gay missed the extra-point attempt. The Rams only had eight first downs and 105 total yards before their first touchdown.
“You always look back at the game and you want a few things back,” said Mayfield, who finished 12 of 21 for 111 yards with one touchdown and one interception. “It just so happened to be a lot of turning points in the game and missed opportunities.”
The Rams were held to a season-low 156 yards with 72 coming on the ground. Rams running back Cam Akers was the lone bright spot offensively with 100 total yards, including 65 rushing yards on 12 carries. Akers also had a team-high 35 receiving yards off of three catches.
Rodgers finished 22 of 30 for 229 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jones had 17 carries for 90 yards and AJ Dillon contributed 11 carries for 36 yards and two touchdowns.
Dillon kept a Packers’ drive alive with a 4-yard run on fourth-and-3 and also ended it with an 8-yard touchdown run to give Green Bay a 10-3 advantage with 4:26 left in the first half. The Rams’ run defense struggled in the middle without interior defensive lineman Aaron Donald, A’Shawn Robinson and Marquise Copeland.
Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford also wasn’t available, but he made the trip to frosty Green Bay and spent most of his time on the sideline reviewing plays with Mayfield, who opened the game 7 of 10 for 59 yards.
Mayfield saw pressure early and often against the Packers’ stout defensive front. The Rams’ offensive line struggled after center Brian Allen limped off the field with a calf injury following the second play of the game, forcing Coleman Shelton to move from right guard to center. Oday Aboushi took over for Shelton’s prior position.
The Rams’ offense settled down during their third drive with the help of Akers, who recorded a few first downs and drew an unnecessary roughness penalty after a Packers defender shoved him past the sideline. But the Rams stalled at the Packers’ 15-yard line and settled for a 33-yard field goal from Matt Gay to tie the score at 3-3 with 10:41 in the second quarter.
The Rams’ first scoring drive started after safety Taylor Rapp recorded his second interception in as many games.
Gay’s second field goal of 55 yards trimmed the Rams’ halftime deficit to 10-6 and it also put him in rare territory. That was only the third field of 50-plus yards at Lambeau Field when the temperature is under 25 degrees.
The Rams avoided the snow at Lambeau Field. That came down two hours after they were officially eliminated from postseason contention.
“I haven’t felt like this since Jacksonville,” Ramsey said. “It sucks.”
