A strong running game and a stout defense are two key elements that help teams make deep playoff runs in the NFL. Look no further than the San Francisco 49ers, last year’s NFC representative in the Super Bowl. They had one of the league’s best defenses along with the top rushing attack, led by All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey.
After Josh Jacobs finished with 106 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns on Sunday against the 49ers, we can confidently check off the running-game box on the Green Bay Packers’ playoff readiness list.
You could argue that no running back outside Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry has meant more to their team than Josh Jacobs. Funny enough, all three were off-season free-agent signings in a league that has deemed running backs expendable.
After Sunday’s dominant performance, Jacobs ranks third in the NFL in rushing yards with 944, just behind Barkley and Henry. To put that into perspective, Barkley and Henry have been floated as realistic MVP candidates this season. For Jacobs to trail only those two in most major running back categories is significant.
It’s no secret that Green Bay’s passing attack hasn’t reached the levels it achieved during last season’s second-half playoff run. Jordan Love has battled injuries, and poor decision-making has led to interceptions. It also hasn’t helped that his receivers are constantly dropping his passes. However, Jacobs has improved Green Bay’s running game, and his role continues to evolve in the offense.
He seems to be getting stronger as the season goes on. Jacbos’ 26 carries on Sunday marked his second-highest total of the season, behind only his 32-carry performance in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts. That game was the first one the Packers played with backup Malik Willis at quarterback, and they leaned on Jacobs significantly. Even when the entire building knew the Packers were running the ball, the Colts couldn’t stop Jacobs, who finished with 151 yards on 32 carries, his season-high.
When the Packers get Jacobs going, good things happen – including wins. Jacobs is averaging 20.5 carries per game in Green Bay’s eight wins this season. In their three losses, he’s averaging only 12.7 carries. It appears that Matt LaFleur may have discovered his best postseason playcalling strategy: keep running the offense through Jacobs and let Love and Co. play a supporting role.
A back with Jacobs’ style will be difficult to defend in January. LaFleur acknowledged as much after the win, saying, “That’s one guy that I don’t worry about: Josh Jacobs. That guy is an animal. He is a dog and a fierce competitor. He definitely relishes those opportunities.”
Jacobs is as hard-nosed a runner as you’ll find in today’s NFL. He possesses an uncanny ability to make people miss at an impressive clip. On Sunday, he set a season high by forcing the 49ers to miss 15 tackles during the game – the most by a ball carrier in a single game this season.
That brings Jacobs’ 2024 total to 67 missed tackles, good for second-most in the NFL. Getting him the ball early and often allows the Packers to set the tone and dictate the pace of the game. His teammates have taken notice and are motivated by his play.
“His ability to make people miss, I mean, I’ve never seen that before,” right tackle Zach Tom pointed out after the game. “So, obviously, for us, that means you better stick to your block because you never know.”
The more the Packers ask of Jacobs, the better it is for Love. Green Bay’s quarterback has struggled at times this season due to injuries and shaky decision-making, throwing an interception in every game he played until Sunday. It’s no coincidence that two of Love’s highest-rated games this season came when Jacobs played a significant role.
Last week against the Chicago Bears, Love finished with a 113 passer rating on 13 completions out of only 17 attempts. This week, he posted a 107.7 rating on 13 completions from 23 attempts. The Packers are asking Love to play a brand of football suited to a young quarterback. The 26-year-old doesn’t need to put on his Superman cape every week. Instead, he can play a supporting role while Jacobs does the heavy lifting and pick his spots when the Packers need him.
Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of Jacobs’ game is his effectiveness in the red zone. The Packers have struggled all season to punch it into the end zone once they get inside the 20-yard line. Entering Sunday, they ranked 27th in red-zone offense, scoring on just 48.7% of their trips – the worst mark of the LaFleur era.
However, the Packers were a perfect five-for-five in the red zone against the 49ers, with Jacobs accounting for three of those scores. LaFleur needs to keep calling Jacobs’ number in the red zone, as Jacobs has proven to have a knack for finding the end zone. Come playoff time, they must maximize every opportunity in a single-elimination format and ride the hot hand.
Green Bay might have found the perfect recipe for a deep playoff run, starting with the 2022 rushing champion leading the attack. Last year, during the team’s somewhat improbable playoff run, they leaned on the running game led by Aaron Jones. Over the final five games, Jones averaged 20.4 carries and 116.8 rushing yards per game, with the Packers running the ball on 53.5% of their plays.
Some might argue they didn’t run the ball enough, partly because they had the hottest player in the sport under center at the time. There were also concerns with Jones’ durability and not wanting to wear him down. That’s not a concern with Jacobs, a prototypical workhouse back in every sense of the word. With Love playing more of a game manager role this year, the Packers need to lean even more heavily on the rushing attack the final six weeks into the playoffs.
While many fans (including yours truly) were shocked when Brian Gutekunst swapped out fan favorite Aaron Jones for former Raider Josh Jacobs, there’s no longer any doubt. There’s no one else Packers fans should want carrying the ball besides No. 8.
