LOS ANGELES — Green Bay found the explosive play it needed to flip the game, but not the sustained defensive control required to keep the advantage. Los Angeles leaned on its ground game for 291 yards on 53 carries, answered the Packers’ third-quarter touchdown with one of its own, and closed out a 13-7 preseason victory Sunday.

The early scoring sequence turned on field position and missed opportunities. Los Angeles’ John Lambert pushed a 51-yard attempt wide left in the first quarter, then converted from 36 yards with 14:25 remaining in the second. Green Bay had a chance to respond, but Jimmy Rice’s 50-yard try also missed wide left. Lambert added a 46-yard field goal before halftime, putting Los Angeles ahead 6-0.

The statistical contrast was clear: Los Angeles built its offense around the run, while Green Bay relied more heavily on the pass. The home side averaged more than five yards per carry as a team, with George Slocum rushing for 97 yards and Mario Watterson adding 89. Fullback Steve Stevenson supplied 34 rushing yards and the decisive touchdown. Los Angeles also converted seven of 12 third downs, keeping enough drives alive to make its run-first approach count.

Green Bay’s breakthrough came after a costly-looking sequence in its own territory. Safety Gary Whitworth sacked Stephen Avalos, forced a fumble, and then brought him down again, leaving the Packers facing second-and-20 at their 21. Avalos answered by finding Paul Smith for a 79-yard touchdown, with Smith separating from coverage on the route. Rice’s extra point put Green Bay in front, 7-6, with 5:37 left in the third quarter.

That lead lasted less than four minutes. Los Angeles marched to the Green Bay 1, where Stevenson ran for the touchdown. Lambert’s extra point made it 13-7 with 1:38 remaining in the quarter. Green Bay’s defense did create late chances: Charlie Dudek forced and recovered a fumble after a Charles Jenkins catch, and Carl Shifflett recovered a Watterson fumble. But the Packers could not turn those takeaways into points.

Green Bay finished with 194 passing yards, including Smith’s 79-yard scoring catch, but managed 57 yards on 18 rushes and converted only four of 12 third downs. Avalos was intercepted twice in the fourth quarter, including Richard Young’s pick with 20 seconds left that ended the final possession. For Bernard Jones’ team, the turnovers and the missed long field goal narrowed the margin for error; Los Angeles’ ability to stay ahead of the chains on the ground ultimately proved the steadier plan.