The Green Bay Packers’ lack of physicality on offense and defense has plagued them in the winter months and the postseason.
We’ve seen it in almost all of the playoff games where the San Francisco 49ers ran all over them. However, this year’s Packers team has flipped the script on that narrative. Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints proved that.
The Packers clobbered the Saints, 34-0. They ran for 188 yards, and nine different players got to run the ball. Green Bay’s running backs Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, and Chris Brooks each had a touchdown, like a gift in a holiday stocking.
Green Bay’s ground game was violent and started at the point of attack in the trenches. The Packers’ offensive line was terrific, especially in their run-blocking down the field. That was evident from the first drive.
Sean Rhyan does a tremendous job of reaching the second level and sealing the lane for Jacobs to run through behind him. Jacobs gets nearly 10 yards down the field before a Saints player touches him. Then, the star free-agent acquisition throws a vicious stiff arm into New Orleans safety Tyrann Mathieu that sends the former LSU Tiger flying.
The Packers displayed toughness all game.
Wilson picked up where Jacobs left off. He put his head down and trucked a defender to gain extra yards. That physicality and aggression in frigid temperatures is encouraging. The Packers have usually been the recipients of this physicality, so it’s nice to see them give it back.
Green Bay’s backs rushed for 144 yards and three scores. Jacobs led the group with 69 yards and averaged 5.3 per carry. And the Packers could have won with just one score from the backs, given how the defense played.
On the defensive side of the ball, rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper set the tone by repeatedly making plays. Cooper helped spearhead the run defense, recording 10 total tackles, including one for loss. Eight of those tackles were solo efforts.
Green Bay’s defense shut out the Saints, who could get nothing going on offense. New Orleans’ backs, including old friend Jamal Williams, rushed for 39 yards on the night.
It was not much better through the air. The Packers held the rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler to 153 yards, forcing a 51.1 passer rating and a 50% completion percentage. The rookie was never comfortable, and the Packers got to him three times, forcing one turnover that Rashan Gary recovered.
In Green Bay’s frozen tundra, the team showed they could be a physically dominant football team in all areas of the game.
The Packers are peaking at the end of the season because they’re playing physical football.
All stats and data via ESPN or Green Bay Packers unless otherwise noted.
