Free NFL betting tips, picks and predictions: Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers

NFL betting tips: Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers

1pt Robert Tonyan (Packers) & Cam Akers (Rams) both to score a TD at 7/2

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Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers

• Saturday 21:35 GMT on Sky Sports NFL
• Match odds: Packers 1/3 | Rams 5/2

The Divisional Round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs kicks off with an intriguing battle between the league’s premier offensive and defensive units.

The Green Bay Packers – led by the likely NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers – have been given the nod by the bookmakers and it’s easy to see why. The Packers have had an extra week off to refresh due to their #1 seeding in the NFC and regardless, their performances in the regular season have been nothing short of sublime.

The Packers have averaged a league-high 31.8 points per game, throwing down a gauntlet to the rest of the league. However, if any team can stop the seemingly constant flow of Green Bay points, it would be the team boasting the best defence in the NFL.

The Los Angeles Rams weren’t spectacular in their win over Seattle last week, but that’s been a feature of their season. They score low, and generally concede fewer.

All eyes will be on Aaron Donald’s injury specification on Saturday, but the signs look good with the former defensive player of the year likely to suit up for the biggest game of the year so far. If Donald doesn’t feature for whatever reason, we can put a pin in this game and move on to the next, but if the Rams’ defence is indeed at full strength, we have ourselves a contest.

Packers’ receiver Davante Adams has been in phenomenal form this season, but he comes up against his most talented foe this weekend in the incomparable Jalen Ramsey. Although Adams may even win the battle, his production will almost certainly be reduced with Rodgers far too smart to throw too often towards the All-Pro cornerback.

Therefore, Green Bay will call on the offensive cavalry in this one to get the job done, and that leads me towards Robert Tonyan. The tight end has exploded into the limelight this season and was extremely unfortunate to miss out on a maiden Pro Bowl nod. He has a remarkable 11 touchdowns on the season and – with Adams otherwise engaged – I’d expect him to get in on the action at Lambeau this weekend.

As for the Rams, there aren’t many too routes to victory in this game, but all of them depend on the success of the run game.

The Packers have only lost three games this season, and in each of those, Green Bay gave up over 140 rushing yards. Luckily for the Rams, rookie Cam Akers has played exceptionally well in recent weeks, but he’s going to have to carry the load in a big way here. It won’t be pretty, but the Colts, Vikings and Buccaneers have laid out the blueprint and Los Angeles have no choice but to follow it.

I do tend to believe that keeping much of the offence out of the hands of Jared Goff will bring success for the Rams, and particularly Akers, but ultimately I can’t help but feel the brilliance of Aaron Rodgers will be enough to make the difference down the stretch.

In the cold of Lambeau, with Rodgers in MVP mode, I’ll take the Packers to progress.

Best Bet: Robert Tonyan (Packers) & Cam Akers (Rams) both to score a TD at 7/2

Prediction: Green Bay Packers

Odds correct at 1100 GMT (16/01/21)

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