The pesky Rams stuck around in this game down only 23-17 heading into the 4th quarter and that’s when the Packers ran away from them with two TDs.  Aaron Rodgers was only sacked two times in this game as the line gave him pretty decent protection.  He completed 13 of 23 passes for 269 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 8 times for 38 yards (4.8 ypc) including a TD.  Ryan Grant was the busiest player on the offense for the Pack in this game as he carried the ball 26 times for 99 yards (3.8 ypc).  Fullback John Kuhn only touched the ball two times in this game (1 yard run, 10 yard reception) and they both went for TDs.  Greg Jennings didn’t get shut out this week like he did last week as he caught 2 passes for 103 yards (51.5 avg).  Donald Driver also had a solid game with 4 receptions for 95 yards (23.8 avg) with a TD grab.  The Packers finished up with 402 total yards on offense (152 rushing, 250 passing) in this game.

A.J. Hawk (10 tackles) and Charles Woodson (6 tackles, interception, pass defensed) led the way for the Packers on defense in this game.  They didn’t play well but good enough to win on this side of the ball.  The Rams finished up with 149 yards rushing, 187 passing) in this game.  The Packers are now 2-1 on the season.

The Packers are licking their wounds after getting beat at home 31-24 by the Bengals.  So they will likely be in a nasty frame of mind on Sunday.  The Packers would love to get a early lead in the passing game and then grind a win out on the ground with Ryan Grant.  That seems entirely possible as the Rams are allowing 258 yards passing per game this season.  The Packers need to protect Aaron Rodgers to give him a chance at a big day as he has been sacked 10 times already this season.  The bad news for the Rams is that pass rushing is one of their biggest weaknesses as they only have 1 sack this year.  If Rodgers has time to throw the ball he will likely shred the Rams’ D.  The Rams can’t stop the run either as they have allowed 146.0 yards rushing per game this season so this week could belong to Ryan Grant (107 yards rushing, 3.6 ypc).

The Rams have a couple things going for them on offense this week.  The Packers have allowed 118.5 yards rushing per game this season so Steven Jackson could have a huge game (171 yards rushing, 5.2 ypc).  The Rams need to stick with the running game as long as they don’t fall behind by more than 10 points.  That’s because Jackson is without a doubt the best player on this football team.  If Marc Bulger gets time to throw the football (a big if) then he could attempt to exploit the Packers’ deep down the middle of the field due to the injuries they have at safety.

PREDICTION: PACKERS 30, RAMS 13

The Packers are allowing 217.0 yards passing this season but you can’t blame that on Charles Woodson.  Woodson has made 12 tackles, 1 for a loss, he’s defensed 2 passes and he has picked off two passes (1 returned for a TD).  With Al Harris on the other side it forces teams to challenge each of the Packers’ corners who are both really solid cover men.  Look for Woodson to be in the Pro Bowl again this season for the Pack.

With Aaron Rodgers under durress quite often (he’s been sacked 10 times) the Packers need to look to throw shorter passes.  TEs Jermichael Finley and Donald Lee are both solid receivers so Rodgers will be looking for them.  Finley has caught 5 passes for 62 yards (12.4 avg) this seaon so far.  Lee has caught 7 passes for 36 yards (5.1 avg) this season.  The Packers have faith in these guys who would be both good enough to start for other teams.

The Packers will be without starting LT Chad Clifton until at least week #5 as he has a high ankle sprain.  Maybe that explains how DE Antwan Odom abused him last weekend.  Starting left guard Daryn Colledge will move out to tackle with Jason Spitz moving into the starting lineup at LG.  The Packers should be o.k. until Clifton gets completely healthy as he wasn’t going to help the team trying to play through his injury.

With the Packers hurting at safety they have decided to sign 26-year old Matt Giordano.  He played in all 16 games for the Colts last season and he made 23 tackles and defensed 1 pass.  Giordano has played in 55 games in his 4-year NFL career in which he has made 80 tackles, defensed 8 passes and he has 3 interceptions (89 return yards, 1 TD).   The Packers better get him up to speed quickly because they will need him this week against the Rams.

The Packers have cut 25-year old safety Aaron Rouse.  The Packers are banking on no team claiming Rouse because he has a neck stinger but they are really taking a chance here.  Rouse had 12 tackles for the Packers in the first two games of the season.  He has played in 27 games in three seasons with the Packers in which he has made 90 tackles, defensed 7 passes and he had 4 interceptions (173 return yards and a TD).  This was a shock.

UPDATE:  The Giants have claimed Rouse off waivers from the Packers.

 Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (1-1) gave a great effort late in the 4th quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals (1-1), as they converted on a late field goal and then recovered an onside kick.  Rodgers lead the Packers down field to the Bengals 10-yard line but a false start by receiver Greg Jennings with two seconds left ended the game with the Packers losing 24-31.  Even though the Packers come-back came up short, Rodgers once again showed that he has what it takes to lead a comeback drive, something he struggled with last year.

The Packers pass protection is ultimately what lost them the game, as Rodgers was sacked six times.  Five of those sacks came from Bengals’ defensive end Antwan Odom, a career high and team record for the six year veteran.  Four of Odom’s sacks came after Packers’ left tackle Chad Clifton was carted off the field with an ankle injury, so his backups were obviously over-matched.  Rodgers was hurried on countless occasions and ended the game with 261 yards with one touchdown on 21/39 (54%) attempts.  He also rushed for 43 yards on four scrambles.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer still looks a little rusty, as he threw two interceptions.  Both of them were picked by Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, who returned one of them 37 yards for a touchdown.  Palmer did throw three touchdowns, including one to Chad Ochocinco who delivered on his “Lambeau Leap” promise.  The Packers have a huge problem with their lack of pass protection and some adjustments are strongly needed in that area.  The Packers take on the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis next week.

FINAL SCORE:  Packers 24, Bengals 31

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was finally able to get himself a comeback victory, something he struggled with all year last season.  The Packers offense didn’t look great against the Chicago Bears last week, but Rodgers and the offense did enough to get the victory with that 50 yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings late in the 4th quarter.

The Cincinnati  Bengals had a very unlucky loss last week against the Broncos, as they lost on a late 87-yard deflected touchdown pass.  Quarterback Carson Palmer did not look very sharp, but the talented quarterback wont be as rusty this week.  The Packers and their new 3-4 defense was outstanding against the Bears and will look to continue that dominance against the Bengals.

Although Rodgers and the Packers offense were able to come from behind and get the victory last week, they did not look very good throughout most of the game.  This will allow the Bengals to challenge the Packers, as the defense wont be able to stop them for the entire game.  The Packers defense will be very effective against the Bengals though, so I think the Packers will be able to pull away in the 4th quarter for the win.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Packers 27, Bengals 17

2nd year WR Jordy Nelson didn’t catch any passes against the Bears last Sunday Night, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t very busy.  Nelson returned 4 kickoffs for 124 yards (31.0 avg) and 2 punts for 14 yards (7.0 avg) against the Bears.  With James Jones back healthy it appears that Nelson is 4th in line at WR for the Packers.  He did have a solid rookie season last year catching 33 passes for 366 yards (11.1 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Nelson will be ready when the Packers need him at WR but the best thing for the team right now is for him to concentrate on returning kicks and punts.