Packers: Three important players vs. Rams in divisional round

These three Packers need to play well against the Rams.

The Green Bay Packers will welcome the Los Angeles Rams to the frozen tundra for a marquee NFC divisional-round matchup. The Packers are well rested after having a first-round bye. Meanwhile, the Rams just came off a tough victory against the Seattle Seahawks in the super wild-card weekend.

The Rams looked very well-rounded in their win but it came with some sacrifices. Their perennial All-Pro DT Aaron Donald left the wild-card game after he suffered torn rib cartilage.

Also, star WR Cooper Kupp walked off the field gingerly after suffering bursitis (inflammation) in his knee. Lastly, Jared Goff is continuing to fight through his recent thumb surgery. He has three metal pins in his right thumb which obviously diminishes his ability to throw the football.

Head coach Sean McVay expects them to be ready for Saturday although they may not be 100 percent healthy.

But that’s playoff football.

So, who needs to step up for the Green Bay Packers this weekend?

We all know the three-headed monster in Aaron Jones, touchdown machine Davante Adams, and this season’s likely MVP Aaron Rodgers, will do their part and come out explosive.

The Packers need to have other key players take a leap to be successful in the divisional round.

Here are three key Packers players against the Rams.

Kenny Clark

Kenny Clark came off a Pro Bowl season in 2019 that transformed into a new four-year, $70 million contract extension, thus making Clark the highest-paid nose tackle in NFL history.

So there would obviously be high expectations for Clark in the 2020 season.

Although Clark hasn’t had the season we’d all been hoping for, he is still a dominant force to be reckoned with in the trenches. Clark is the glue in the Packers’ run defense and will be heavily leaned upon to stop the extremely innovative Rams run offense.

In the wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks, Rams rookie running back Cam Akers was unstoppable. Akers rushed for an impressive 131 yards and tallied on 45 receiving yds.

With Jared Goff attempting to play through dreadful thumb issues on his throwing hand, the Rams will look to operate their offense on the ground.

The Packers’ secondary will be able to maintain the Rams’ wideouts but the question we’re all asking ourselves is, can the defense stop the run?

If Kenny Clark can overpower the Rams’ offensive line, the Packers should be in good shape.