Rams dealing with QB uncertainty as they visit Packers in a matchup of slumping teams

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers haven’t reached the end zone before halftime in any of their last five games. The Los Angeles Rams gave up four first-half touchdowns when they last took the field.

As the Packers (2-5) host the Rams (3-5) in a Sunday matchup of slumping teams, the game could come down to which of them can avoid falling behind early. The Packers have lost four consecutive games, while the Rams have dropped two straight and three of four.

These stats tell the story about the struggles of these two teams: The Rams fell behind 33-9 in the first half of a 43-20 loss at Dallas on Sunday, as the defense allowed three touchdowns and the offense gave up a pick-6. The Packers have scored more than 24 points over an entire game just once, in a 38-20 season-opening victory at Chicago.

“I think that game, we started fast. … I think that’s what we’ve got to get back to – just starting the game fast and being able to put up points on that first drive, second drive,” said Packers quarterback Jordan Love, whose team has totaled just 40 points in its last three games. “It’ll be a snowball effect after that because I think once we get rolling, everybody is making plays and we’re a tough offense to stop.”

The Rams have an uncertain quarterback situation after Matthew Stafford sprained his right thumb at Dallas, preventing him from practicing this week. The Rams’ Friday injury report listed Stafford as questionable for Sunday’s game.

“It’s one of those deals that you give him up until right before the game,” Rams coach Sea McVay said. “You use all the time necessary for a player like him.”

Brett Rypien would likely start at quarterback if Stafford is unavailable. Although the 27-year-old Rypien has thrown twice as many career interceptions (eight) as touchdown passes (four), he owns a 2-1 record in his three previous starts.

Rypien started one game for the Denver Broncos in 2020 and two more in 2022. The Rams activated him from their practice squad last month. He went 5 of 10 for 42 yards after taking over for the injured Stafford against the Cowboys.

STAFF CONNECTIONS

These two staffs have plenty of familiarity with each other.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur was the offensive coordinator on McVay’s Rams staff in 2017. LaFleur and McVay also worked together as NFL assistants in Washington from 2010-13.

LaFleur is the older brother of Mike LaFleur, who joined McVay’s staff as offensive coordinator this season. The LaFleurs also faced off last year, when Mike was offensive coordinator for a Jets team that won 27-10 at Green Bay.

“It’s a blessing and a curse to be able to go against your friends, but all that goes out the window,” Matt LaFleur said. “You don’t even think about it really throughout the course of the week. It’s just you see them right before gametime, you kind of reconnect really quick and then it’s you’re off to your own sideline and it’s just another opponent out there.”

RAMS’ DYNAMIC DUO

The Rams have one of the NFL’s top receiving tandems in 2021 All-Pro selection Cooper Kupp and rookie Puka Nacua.