Packers’ run game remains abysmal despite win
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 29: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Green Bay Packers scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Green Bay Packers had a perfect opportunity to get their running game back on track on Thursday. They were facing the Carolina Panthers, who had just allowed 258 rushing yards to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers four days earlier, and they got them on a short week. Josh Jacobs was back — and although mileage will surely vary on whether or not an individual Packers fan thinks that’s a good thing in general, he is clearly the most talented running back on the team’s roster.
So what did the Packers actually do on the ground? They picked up 66 net yards on 26 carries. One of those runs was an end-around to Savion Williams for 18 yards, so the running backs combined for 48 yards on 25 carries, less than two yards per carry on average.
It does not feel like hyperbole to say that this is the worst rushing attack in Packers history, and it may well be the worst in NFL history. The fact that the Packers threw the ball on 3rd and 2 late in the game to try to run out the clock should come as no surprise, because this offense has no choice but to run through Jordan Love.
And Love played well once again on Thursday night, generally getting the ball out quickly and accurately. Love had just one mistake — a terrible decision on an interception towards the end zone early in the fourth quarter — but otherwise he put up a great performance. 30 of 41 for 288 yards and three touchdowns will get the job done most days, and it certainly did against the Panthers on Sunday.
The Packers still made their share of mistakes. Two fumbles, including one on the opening kickoff, could have been a death sentence against a better team. There were still drops, though Matthew Golden made up for one in the end zone with a touchdown on the very next play. But the penalty issues were better, and maybe there’s something to build on here.
It just isn’t the running game.
Game recap: 5 takeaways from Packers’ victory over Panthers | Packers.com
While the offense still has major issues to iron out, the defense stifled Carolina for much of the game, getting some big 4th down stops and posting six sacks, one each from six different players.
Christian Watson’s return from hospital leaves Packers teammates stunned | Packers Wire
Watson left the game in the first half and got checked out at a local hospital, but he returned in an ambulance after halftime and made a clutch catch on 3rd-and-2 to all but seal the game.
Packers Report Card: Big Win Over Panthers Comes With Two F’s | SI.com
The run game, as expected, gets a failure, but so does the special teams, thanks to another missed PAT by Trey Smack and the fumble by Coleman Owen on the opening kick.
Packers’ Josh Jacobs: TD celebration was ode to gospel song, not mocking arrest | ESPN
I’m sorry, when you have more than 20 carries and fewer than 40 yards, it’s tough to celebrate too much at all. But the lack of awareness by Jacobs for how his “handcuffs” celebration would be perceived is just another example of poor judgment on his part.
Here’s a good recap on just how badly the Packers missed their chance to get the run game going again:
Patrick Stewart, legendary actor of ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ fame, dies at 86 | AP.com
No funny link tonight, just a sad one: one of the iconic actors of the last several decades, and a genuinely excellent human being, passed away this week. Shaka, when the walls fell.
Go Pack Go—wherever you go!
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Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.