Green Bay’s offense has found a way to keep humming even while the ground game has been stuck in the mud.
Through six weeks, the Packers are averaging only 59.8 rushing yards per game, which puts them dead last in the NFL and more than 16 yards behind the next team in the rankings. That kind of production is hard to ignore, especially for a team missing Josh Jacobs for the first month and a half.
The run blocking from Green Bay’s unproven offensive line has been rough, and the rushing approach from OC Adam Stenavich and HC Matt LaFleur hasn’t exactly fixed it. But the bigger story is that the offense has still managed to function.
Despite the non-existent run game, Green Bay sits 18th in the league in total offense at 329.2 yards per game and owns a 4-2 record. That’s not easy to do when there’s almost no threat of establishing the run, yet the Packers have been even sharper lately. They’ve scored 20-plus points in each of their last two games, and they’ve done that in two-thirds of their games so far this season.
That makes the offense’s resilience one of the clearest things Green Bay can carry forward.
The long wait for Jacobs appears to be nearing an end. Whether it happens this week or next, his return feels close.
And even after factoring out whatever off-field considerations are involved, his comeback would be a major boost on the field. With the way the offensive line has struggled, Jacobs should still be able to produce more than any back the Packers have used so far.
MarShawn Lloyd may be better suited as a complementary piece anyway. Even after he gave way to Pierre Strong Jr. for 11 carries in Sunday night’s win over Dallas, Lloyd hasn’t shown much ability to create much beyond what’s blocked for him. With a more established back in front of him, though, he may have a better chance to slip into a more effective role and find some openings that haven’t been there yet.
The pass catchers have also held up their end. Second-year receiver Matthew Golden has emerged as one of the top offensive weapons from his draft class, while Christian Watson, coming off his contract extension, has looked like the WR1 Green Bay always hoped he could become. Jordan Love has done his part too, running the offense with efficiency and a calm command that fits Matt LaFleur’s plan.
There’s a real possibility that what we’ve seen already is the low point for this Packers offense. If that’s true, Green Bay has a chance to make some serious noise in the NFC North the rest of the way and, ideally, into the playoffs.
In Other News...
Jonathan Gannon Is Already Changing The Feel Of This Packers Defense
Six weeks into the season, the Packers defense already looks and feels different under Jonathan Gannon. The former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator has helped turn a unit that was searching for consistency into one of the leagues more productive groups, with Green Bay sitting 10th in total defense and showing a much sharper edge than it did a year ago.
What makes the early return more striking is the way Green Bay has gotten there while dealing with injuries to key players. Even with important pieces unavailable, several defenders have stepped into bigger roles and helped keep the standard high, a sign that Gannons influence is already being felt beyond the play sheet. The bigger question now is how much more this group can grow once the roster gets closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Winning Streak Puts Fresh Pressure On Two Overlooked Rookies
Green Bays three-game run has changed the tone around the roster in a hurry, and it has also sharpened the spotlight on the teams quieter rookie storylines. A draft class that arrived with some expectation now has a much steeper climb, because every win seems to tighten the competition for snaps and make it harder for first-year players to carve out even a small foothold.
Domani Jackson and Jager Burton are the clearest examples of that squeeze. Jackson is still working from the practice squad after missing early camp and the preseason because of health issues, while Burton has had an uneven stretch of playing time and was recently made a healthy scratch. Neither has established a meaningful role yet, and in a season where the Packers are building momentum, the margin for patience is starting to shrink. [Read more 🡒]
Keisean Nixon Thinks Packers Could Look Dangerous Again Soon
The Packers have been waiting for some help to arrive, and Josh Jacobs is finally back in the picture after the NFL removed him from the commissioners exempt list. For a team that has had trouble getting its rushing game going without him, the timing matters, and cornerback Keisean Nixon believes Green Bay can start to look a lot more dangerous once its roster begins to fill out again.
Nixon also pointed to the possibility of another major boost on the defensive side in Micah Parsons, who is still working his way back from a knee injury. The Packers have felt the absence of both players in different ways, and the idea of getting even closer to full strength has raised the stakes around what Green Bay could become if those reinforcements continue trending the right direction. [Read more 🡒]