Josh Jacobs is the key to a playoff run

A strong running game and solid 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 done with 106 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns on Sunday against the 49ers, we can safely check the running game off the Green Bay Packers’ playoff-ready list.

You could argue that no running back outside of Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry has meant more to their team than Josh Jacobs. Funnily enough, all three offseason signings were in a league that has deemed running backs useless.

After Sunday’s dominant performance, Jacobs ranks third in NFL in rushing yards with 944, just behind Barkley and Henry. To put that into perspective, Barkley and Henry have been floated as realistically MVP candidates this season. For Jacobs to be behind only those two in most major running back categories is important.

It’s no secret that Green Bay’s passing attack hasn’t reached the levels it achieved during the second half of last season’s playoffs. Jordan Love has battled injuries and poor decision making has led to interceptions. It also hasn’t helped that his receivers are constant fall 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, trailing only his 32-carry performance in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts. That game was the first the Packers played with backup Malik Willis at quarterback, and they leaned heavily on Jacobs. Even with the entire building knowing the Packers were running the ball, the Colts couldn’t stop Jacobs, who finished with a season-high 151 yards on 32 carries.

When the Packers get Jacobs going, good things happen — including wins. Jacobs averages 20.5 carries per game. game in Green Bay’s eight wins this season. In their three losses, he’s averaging just 12.7 carries. It looks like 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 full-back with Jacob’s style will be difficult to defend in January. LaFleur recognized as much after the win, saying, “That’s one guy I don’t worry about: Josh Jacobs. That guy’s an animal. He’s a dog and a tough competitor. He’s definitely enjoying those opportunities.”

Jacobs is as tough a runner as you’ll find in today’s NFL. He possesses an uncanny ability to make people miss 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 quarterback 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 tempo of the game. His teammates have noticed 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 match. “So obviously to us that means you better stick to your block because you never know.”

The more the Packers ask of Jacobs, the better 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 just 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 befitting a young quarterback. The 26-year-old doesn’t need to don his Superman cape every week. Instead, he can play a supporting role while Jacobs does the heavy lifting and picks his spots when the Packers need him.

Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of Jacobs’ game is his efficiency 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. Incoming Sunday, they ranked 27th in the red zone, 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 shown a knack for finding the end zone. When the playoffs come, 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 charge. Last year, during the team’s somewhat improbable playoff run, they leaned on the running game led by Aaron Jones. Over the last 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 that they didn’t run the ball enough, in part 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 problem for Jacobs, a prototypical workhouse left in every sense of the word. With Love playing more of a game manager role this year, the Packers need to lean even more on the rushing attack the last six weeks into the playoffs.

While many fans (including yours truly) were shocked when Brian Gutekunst traded fan favorite Aaron Jones for former Raider Josh Jacobs, there is no longer any doubt. There is no one else Packers fans should want to carry the ball besides No. 8.