Paul Bretl | 9/15/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Without Jordan Love, the Packers pulled off a win on Sunday over the Indianapolis Colts, and it all started in the trenches with the offensive line.
The Packers finished the game with 261 rushing yards, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt. In fact, 164 of those rushing yards came in the first quarter, the most by a team since Denver rushed for 167 yards in the opening quarter of a game back in 2011.
“I mean, I feel like it was mindset more than anything,” said Elgton Jenkins at his locker post-game. “We knew to win this game we going have to run the ball and we going have to run it good. So, I feel like we came in with the right mindset, for sure just to get the job done.”
For Josh Jacobs, this was a game where he could showcase why the Packers signed him in free agency. During his time with the Las Vegas Raiders, there were numerous occasions over his five seasons there where he handled a hefty workload.
While the Packers did find ways to spread the ball around in the run game, they needed Jacobs to be that player today, carrying the ball 32 times for 151 yards–a task that he was more than comfortable taking on.
“Man, honest, I feel like I could play another half,” said Josh Jacobs. “It was hot, it was hot, especially in warm-ups, but body-wise, I feel good, man. I told ‘em, I don’t think I’ve ever had a game where I came out kind of like this clean. So I feel good.”
In a game where the opponent knew the run game was going to be a big factor for the Packers, Matt LaFleur didn’t just run the ball, but he threw a variety of different looks at the Colts as well. Whether it was the usage of all three running backs, Malik Willis, the receivers or mixing outside zone and gap schemes, as far as the run game goes, the Packers threw it all at the Indianapolis defense.
“I just think we had a variety of schemes up,” said Matt LaFleur, “and I think you gotta give credit to Adam Stenavich and all our coaches that kind of come up with that run plan, just the diversity within our run game and then the ability to put guys in certain positions, using our receivers in the running game, our tight ends blocking their butt off. Again, I told the O-line, I challenged ’em the other day and we had a shaky day at practice, I think on Wednesday and I went in there and said, hey, we’re winning this game through you guys and I thought they stepped up.”
Success in the run game is always important, but it becomes paramount when relying on a backup quarterback who has been with the team for less than three weeks. Moving the ball on the ground puts the offense in short down-and-distance situations, which forces the defense to defend the entire field.
Conversely, struggles in the run game puts the offense behind the sticks and in predictable passing situations where the defensive front can pin its ears back and the secondary has the advantage from a coverage standpoint. The run game needed to be Willis’ best friend, which it was.
“It was definitely huge,” said Jacobs of the run game, “because obviously he’s only been here two weeks. He did really good with what was asked of him, but we knew we had to come in and run the ball today. We knew we had to set that tone. So it allowed us to be able to do that. It was definitely a team effort, and it just played out good today.”
There is also a positive trickle-down effect that the run game can have for the defense. With the Packers putting together long drives and bleeding the clock for much of the game, they dominated the time of possession, with Green Bay’s defense not even on the field for 20 minutes of the 60 minute game. That’s one helpful way to limit an explosive offense like the Colts have.
“I was literally just sitting back enjoying my Gatorade,” said Jaire Alexander with a smile. “Felt amazing. This might be the shortest film that we watch all season.”
Attacking the Colts on the ground wasn’t the game plan only because Willis was under center, but the Indianapolis defense also struggled to do so last week, surrendering 213 rushing yards to the Houston Texans, with Joe Mixon averaging over 5.0 yards per attempt. In a similar fashion, the Packers utilized 11 personnel and shotgun looks to spread the Colts’ defense out.
Some might look at the Packers’ game plan as conservative. However, if you ask the Packers, what we saw on Sunday was just what this matchup dictated, and they found great success with it, so why stop?
“I don’t think of it,” said Willis when asked if this was a conservative approach. “It’s either win or lose, and y’all going to write about that either way. You can say what you want to. All you can do is control the flow of the game. The flow of the game said we’re running the ball today, and if we’re going to be successful running the ball, would you not run the ball just to prove somebody wrong, you know what I mean? That just is what it is. We’re not here to throw those terms around. We’re here to win games and do what we can to lean on each other, and that’s all it is.”
This game ended up being more of an old-school, win-ugly type of game for the Packers, but all wins–and all losses–regardless of how they look, count the same in the wins and losses columns.
In a game where the Packers ran the ball a whopping 53 times, the ball carriers and the offensive line left it all on the field–literally. Elgton Jenkins and Josh Myers puked on day where the temperature in Green Bay wasn’t too far off from 90 degrees.
“It was a grinder,” said Jenkins. “We just had to make sure we stayed hydrated, stay above the sticks and don’t get behind the sticks and lean on those guys and give our running backs, our quarterbacks, too, some space to run. It’s definitely one of those days – one of those camp days – for sure.”