The Packers got what they needed from the offensive line on Sunday. The running backs? Not even close.
Against a Tampa Bay defense that came in ranked fourth in the NFL in opponent rushing success rate through three games, Green Bay’s front held up better than expected. That matters, because this was supposed to be a tough test.
The Buccaneers have long been a sturdy run defense with Vita Vea anchoring the middle, and yet the Packers’ line was, at minimum, fine. The rushing success rate landed in the 56th percentile.
That should have been enough for a stronger day on the ground.
Instead, the backfield kept dragging the whole operation down.
The biggest self-inflicted blow came on the red zone fumble by Kaleb Johnson. Near the goal line, the standard is simple: two hands on the ball, get through traffic, don’t give the defense its one path back into the game.
Johnson did the opposite, carrying it in one hand and getting it stripped from the side where the danger was greatest. It was the kind of mistake that just can’t happen in the NFL.
Chris Brooks had the day’s biggest carry, and it showed both the promise and the limitation of the setup. The blocking opened a clean lane, and Brooks picked up a chunk gain.
But once he got into space, there wasn’t much left. Antoine Winfield Jr. wasn’t exactly flying around back there, and still there was never much doubt Brooks would be run down.
He’s a lot of things, but he’s not a value-add as a ball carrier.
Marshawn Lloyd kept running into the same issue: the first hint of trouble, and he wanted out to the edge.
To be fair, one of those snaps was not entirely on him. Jordan Morgan got driven back into the backfield, and the tight ends didn’t clean up the backside when Lloyd tried to bounce it.
Even so, the play was there if he stayed disciplined and pressed it play-side. The right side had actually created a lane, with Antoine Winfield Jr. waiting at the end of it.
That’s part of the job near the goal line, especially for a stoutly built back. Take the space.
Attack the defender. Stop bouncing everything.
Lloyd did find a bounce worthwhile once. Tucker Kraft blew his block and got beaten across his face, which wrecked the play from the start.
Against an edge defender, that’s not an easy assignment for a tight end, but it still has to be handled if the design is going to work. Lloyd redirected weak-side and salvaged a decent gain.
That’s the frustrating part with this group right now. They aren’t just taking things off the table with poor vision and shaky fundamentals.
They aren’t adding much of anything, either. One basic duo run summed it up neatly: Jonnu motioned to the wing to pull the cornerback into the hole, setting up a one-on-one for Johnson.
The design did its job. Johnson didn’t.
The Packers are obviously waiting for Josh Jacobs to come back from the exempt list/suspension, but how long they can keep rolling with this backfield is another question. This isn’t replacement-level running back play. It’s worse than that, and it’s making it hard to build anything that looks like a coherent offense.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Have New Offensive Line Questions This Week
The Packers latest injury report brought a fresh layer of uncertainty to a group that has already been under the microscope, with four players listed as non-participants and both Chris Brooks and Aaron Banks among them. For a team trying to keep its offense on schedule, any week that adds turnover up front or in the backfield tends to draw immediate attention, especially as the practice week starts to take shape.
Savion Williams at least offered a bit of movement on the other side of the ledger, as he returned to practice and opened his 21-day window to come off injured reserve. The bigger issue now is how Green Bay manages the rest of the week while Chicago deals with its own long injury list, because the Packers preparation could hinge on which pieces are actually available when the division matchup gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Familiar Backfield Option Fans Will Recognize
The Packers ground game has been searching for a spark through four games, and the numbers have reflected it. Green Bays current running backs have averaged three yards per carry, with MarShawn Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks combining for 231 rushing yards on 75 carries, a production line that leaves plenty of room for improvement as the team tries to settle into its 2-2 start.
One familiar name now hovering around the conversation is Jamaal Williams, who last played for the Saints in 2024 and recently worked out with the Patriots while reportedly looking good. For Packers fans, the idea of a reunion is easy to understand: Williams would bring a known presence to the backfield and a jolt of energy to the locker room at a time when Josh Jacobs status remains uncertain. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Love Gives Packers Fans A Reason To Believe Before Bears Week
Jordan Love has given Green Bay something it has been waiting for at the most important position on the field: steady, efficient quarterback play. As the NFC North turns toward Week 5, the Packers are watching a division landscape shaped by uneven quarterback performances, with Minnesota winning despite Kyler Murrays struggles and Chicago leaning on Tyson Bagent as part of an offense that has found ways to function. In that mix, Loves improved efficiency stands out as a reason Packers fans can believe the offense is moving in the right direction.
The timing matters because the Bears are not just surviving on offense, they have had real success doing it, which makes this week a useful measuring stick for Green Bay. Minnesotas formula has been built more on defense than quarterback production, while Murray is still auditioning for the long-term contract questions hanging over him. Love does not have to settle every debate in one Sunday, but he does need to keep showing that the Packers have stability where their division rivals still have uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]