The Green Bay Packers will host the NFC Championship Game next Sunday after beating the Los Angeles Rams by 14 points on Saturday at Lambeau Field.

The victory was an impressive all-around performance from Matt LaFleur’s team that requires deeper examination.

Breaking down the how’s and why’s of the Packers’ 32-18 win over the Rams:

Running over a tendency

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

The Rams played as light in the box against the run as any team in the NFL this season, believing their defensive front to be good enough to disrupt the run while allowing more resources to be spent defending the passing game. For much of the year, the plan worked. On Saturday, the Packers took advantage. Running inside zone concepts for much of the game, the Packers rushed 32 times for 191 yards with Aaron Jones (14 for 99), Jamaal Williams (12 for 66) and A.J. Dillon (6 for 27), bullying the Rams’ No. 1 ranked defense into submission. The Packers offensive line set the tone early and controlled the game from start to finish. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and play caller Matt LaFleur happily ran the football when the Rams defense played to its identity. The Rams hadn’t given up more than 136 rushing yards in a game all season. The Packers finished with 188 on Saturday.

Pass rush turns up the heat

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Rashan Gary (52) celebrates sacking Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) in the third quarter during their NFL divisional playoff game Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Rams quarterback Jared Goff played well in spots, but the Packers’ pass-rush eventually took over the game. According to Next Gen Stats, the Packers pressured Goff on 48.4 percent of his drop backs, a season high. Goff took four sacks, and Rashan Gary and Za’Darius Smith both had seven total pressures. The sacks came in big spots, too. Gary forced a punt with a third-down sack in the first half, and he all but ended the game with a sack on fourth down late in the fourth quarter. On the two other drives with sacks, the Rams eventually punted, including once in the fourth quarter down seven points and with an opportunity to tie the game. Goff finished with only 148 net passing yards, including the 26 yards lost via sacks.

Situationally dominant offense

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates after scrambling for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams during their divisional playoff game on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

The Packers finished the regular season ranked second in the NFL converting third downs and first in scoring touchdowns in the red zone. Once again, the offense was dominant in the two big game situations. The Packers converted 8-of-12 third downs and scored touchdowns on three red-zone trips. Converting third downs led to 72 total plays and over 36 minutes time of possession. Scoring touchdowns inside the 20-yard line meant another 30-point game. On the defensive side, the Packers held the Rams to just two conversions on nine opportunities on third and fourth down.

No big mistakes

Dan Powers-USA TODAY NETWORK

The Packers flirted with some costly errors, including a botched extra point, two interceptable passes from Aaron Rodgers late in the first half, a dropped touchdown pass by Allen Lazard and a fumble from rookie A.J. Dillon, but the one big mistake never really happened. The bad snap from Hunter Bradley helped injure Mason Crosby and changed some of the in-game decisions after touchdowns, but the single point ended up not mattering. The Packers got a field goal after the two dropped interceptions, Lazard made amends with a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Rodgers was in the right place at the right time to recover the fumble after the botched exchange with Dillon. The Rams needed a takeaway or two to have a chance. The Packers ended up with zero turnovers.

Contain the difference-makers

Los Angeles Rams running back Cam Akers (23) is tackled by Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Preston Smith (91) during the 1st quarter of the Green Bay Packers Los Angeles Rams NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Without Cooper Kupp (inactive, knee) and facing the NFL’s top scoring offense, the Rams needed a huge afternoon from running back Cam Akers and receiver Robert Woods to keep up with the Packers on the scoreboard. Akers was productive but hardly a true difference-maker, and Woods didn’t have a big impact. Akers rushed for 90 yards, scored a touchdown and converted a two-point conversion, but the Rams needed more. Probably much more. Woods caught eight passes for just 48 yards, with a long catch of just 10 yards. Overall, the Rams had just one play over 20 yards. Without consistent production from Akers and Woods or any big plays, the Rams produced only three scoring drives.

Fourth quarter dominance

Green Bay Packers’ Allen Lazard celebrates after a 58-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

The Rams clawed to with seven points late in the third quarter and actually had the football in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie the game. From there, however, the Packers took over. The defense delivered a stop, forcing a punt with 9:53 left, and the offense marched 73 yards in just five plays to score what turned out to be the game-ending touchdown on a 58-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Allen Lazard. After the score, the Packers forced a turnover on downs with a sack from Rashan Gary on fourth down. Up 14 and back in possession, the Packers offense killed the remaining 4:59 left on the clock and kneeled down three times in the Rams red zone to close it out. The finish was a dominant one from Matt LaFleur’s team. The Rams gained just 30 yards on 14 plays in the fourth quarter, while the Packers produced 113 yards and the quarter’s only points.

Secondary targets step up in passing game

Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan (85) against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) following a second-half reception during their divisional playoff game on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

The Rams held Davante Adams to just 66 yards on nine catches, a commendable effort even if he did find the end zone on a beautifully crafted play from the 1-yard line in the second quarter. The Packers kept the ball moving through the air with the secondary targets. Allen Lazard caught four passes for 96 yards, including the 58-yard touchdown. His numbers would have looked even better had he hauled in a likely touchdown in the third quarter. Robert Tonyan caught all four of his targets for 60 yards, including a 33-yarder in the first half that set up a field goal before the half. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a crucial third-down conversion before Lazard’s touchdown catch. And Equanimeous St. Brown had a 27-yard catch on a free play that set up the opening field goal. Together, the four combined for 13 catches, 216 yards and one touchdown.

Wall of protection

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is all smiles as he approaches the line of scrimmage to down the ball to end the game and a victory against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL divisional playoff game Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Even without Pro Bowl left tackle David Bakhtiari, the Packers didn’t allow a single sack to a team that finished the regular season with the NFL’s second-most. In fact, Rodgers was only hit once all game despite dropping back to pass 36 times. Aaron Donald (13.5 sacks) and Leonard Floyd (10.5 sacks) had four total tackles and zero quarterback hits. As it’s been all season, Rodgers was surgical from clean pockets. The Packers quarterback said the offensive line play was “stellar.” Saturday night was the fifth time Rodgers hasn’t been sacked in a game this season. The Packers averaged 36.2 points per game in those five games.

Other factors to know

– The Packers welcomed 8.456 fans to Lambeau Field, and they delivered some noise, which was noticeable even through the television broadcast. Each player said it made a difference. Tough not to gain some energy from the first home crowd of the year.

– The Packers scored on their first five offensive possessions, putting immense pressure on the Rams. Back-to-back touchdowns in the first half produced a 16-3 advantage, and the Packers scored nine points on the possessions before and after the half to go up 25-10.

– The Packers only had three penalties for 22 yards. One was a highly questionable holding penalty on Rick Wagner. Matt LaFleur’s team played a clean game overall.

– Cornerback Jaire Alexander allowed just one catch into his coverage, according to Next Gen Stats.

– Defensive lineman Kenny Clark finally saw all his good work payoff in the box score. He was in on two different sacks.