The hype and frenzy of sports betting get bigger with Divisional Playoff NFL matchups as the Los Angeles Rams travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers.
| Game: Los Angeles Rams (11-6) vs Green Bay Packers (13-3) Location: Lambeau Field Time: 4:35 p.m. ET Television: FOX |
The sportsbook opened the Green Bay Packers as 7½-point favorites for Saturday’s game, but eventually that number was taken down to a touchdown. A 6½ flashed briefly on the NFL odds board but got bought back up to seven. The total dropped a full point from its open at 46½, now to 45½.
Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| Rams | +7 | +260 | 45½ | 20 |
| Packers | -7 | -320 | 45½ | 27 |
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams’ coach Sean McVay’s plan nearly worked, but karma bit him in the end. He had decided earlier in the week to roll with John Wolford at quarterback sensation, giving the public the impression they would be starting Jared Goff still recovering from surgery for a broken thumb.
As it played out, Wolford took a hit to the head and neck and left the game for the hospital before the first quarter was over. Wolford’s injury, described as a stinger, leaves him day-to-day, as described by McVay.
Wolford was one of five players listed as “did not practice” on Tuesday’s walkthrough. Everyone did participate, but since it was only a walkthrough the player’s designation reflects what would have happened in a full practice. Several other important names fall under that same category, DE Aaron Donald and WR Cooper Kupp being foremost among them.
[Ed. Note: Wolford has been declared out, and Blake Bortles is now Goff’s backup.]
Donald sustained some solid hits on his already damaged ribs that took him out of last Saturday’s win over the Seahawks. The good news is his X-rays came back negative, and McVay says he’ll be ready. Worth noting that Donald shouldn’t be expected to practice this week.
Kupp suffered a knee contusion Saturday, but he too is expected to be available for the upcoming Divisional game.
Also banged up last Saturday, LG David Edwards left the game in the second quarter, apparently due to Achilles’ tendinitis. Backup Bobby Evans took his snaps for the remainder of the game, which may be the case again as Edwards is described as day-to-day. Fortunately, LT Andrew Whitworth had just returned from injured reserve. He’s back on the injury report this week for his knee issue, but was listed as limited in Tuesday’s report and should be fine.
Rounding out the Rams’ report, OLB Terrell Lewis was described as missing Tuesday’s practice after appearing with a questionable designation for his ankle. And WR/PR Nsimba Webster was listed as limited (and questionable) for his hamstring.
Green Bay Packers
Though they won the top seed in the NFC and the bye week that came with it, the Green Bay Packers are keeping it real by tossing a bunch of players on the injury report anyway.
At least in DE Kingsley Keke’s case, the designation may be justified. He missed the season finale with a concussion, appears not to have cleared the protocol, didn’t practice on Tuesday and could be in danger of missing Saturday’s game.
Otherwise, the Packers list a half-dozen players who were limited on Tuesday and carry a questionable designation coming into the practice week. Most notably, RT Rick Wagner is back on the list with a knee that limited him at the end of the season as well.
Having just lost star LT David Bakhtiari to injured reserve, they’re already thin at O-line. Enough so that they signed OT Jared Veldheer off the Colts’ practice squad. Veldheer could be the first player in history to play for two different teams in a single playoff. (And the team has shut down rookie Simon Stepaniak, moving him to the injured reserve again for the last time this season.)
A couple of other names reappear on the list echoing injuries of old: TE Marcedes Lewis (knee), RT Rick Wagner (knee), WR Allen Lazard (abdomen) and Equanimeous St. Brown (knee). Lazard previously appeared also with a wrist problem and Brown with an ankle issue they may still be rehabbing as well.
On defense, CB Kevin King (Achilles) and OLB Za’Darius Smith (ankle) also appear on the report as limited and thus questionable. Smith may still also be dealing with his injured thumb.
Finally, the team declined to activate RB Patrick Taylor from the non-football injury list last week.
☙
New to the game? Learn how to bet online at the BetUS, check out our sportsbook reviews and find out why we’re America’s Favorite Sportsbook when it comes to getting down on your NFL picks.
