By: Bryce Fields

If you are a NFL fan of any sort, you know that the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams matchup was the game of the week. The struggling Packers came into Sunday’s contest with a record of 3-2-1 and, were looking to get on the right track by heading to L.A. and taking down the undefeated Rams. On the other hand, the Rams were trying to continue their season-long dominance with another win.

The game started slower than expected, with only Packers’ running back Jamaal Williams finding the endzone in the first quarter. Green Bay extended their lead to 10 with a Mason Crosby field goal in the second quarter, but the score read 10-8 at halftime thanks to a Rams’ forced safety and Jared Goff touchdown pass. The scoring floodgates opened in the third quarter, where the Packers added another field goal before the Rams rattled off back-to-back touchdowns. A Green Bay touchdown run made the score 23-20 in L.A.’s favor heading into the fourth quarter.

Now, the fourth quarter is where things get interesting. After a Rams’ field goal and Packers touchdown, another field goal gave the Rams a slim two-point lead with just over two minutes left. This is primetime for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to lead his team down the field yet again, only needing a field goal to win the game and end the Rams’ undefeated season.

Then, Ty Montgomery happened. Montgomery, a fourth-year running back for Green Bay, lined up in his own endzone to take the kickoff. There are various reports and rumors about what Montgomery was supposed to do with the kickoff, but I am not here to speculate on that. But what did happen was Montgomery took the ball and ran like a bat out of hell down the middle of the field, only to fumble the ball to the Rams, sealing the Packers fate as they took a 29-27 loss.

Photo credit to Madison.com

Of course, we can assume Montgomery did not want to fumble and cost his team a potential game-winning drive. However, since the incident occurred, people are saying Montgomery had a temper-tantrum on the sidelines on the Packers previous offensive drive, and was told to kneel the ball in the endzone for a touchback on the ensuing kickoff. Obviously this didn’t happen, and the game ended due to his fumble.

What people didn’t see coming is that this also ended something else – Montgomery’s time as a member of the Green Bay Packers. As they approached the NFL trade deadline, the Packers decided to ship Montgomery to the Baltimore Ravens for a 7th round pick. A pick that late is usually not worth much, which only further shows how much the Green Bay organization was displeased with Montgomery’s decision and mistake against the Rams.

Photo credit to Worldwide American Football

It seems that the costly fumble costed Montgomery more than we could’ve thought. We can only hope Montgomery does some good things in Baltimore, because as of now, he is only known as the guy who lost the game for the Packers.