Green Bay Packers Need to Make 49ers Respect the Run Game

In order for the Green Bay Packers’ offense to have success on Sunday, they must be diligent when it comes to running the ball.

Although both the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers would finish the regular season at 13-3, by now you’ve heard that most NFL media members aren’t giving Green Bay much of a chance in the NFC Championship game. And a big reason for that is because of this stout Niner defense, which to put simply, has been excellent this season.

Their secondary allowed the fewest passing yards per game in 2019 with just 169.2 and that unit ranked second by DVOA. Meanwhile, their defensive front has been fierce as they’ve recorded 48 sacks, the fifth most in football. And overall, the 19.4 points per game that they allowed is the eighth fewest.

As we saw first hand in Week 12, the Green Bay Packers’ offense is going to have their hands full on Sunday, and in order for them to have any success, they have to run the ball well.

If there is a part of this Niner defense that the Packers could find some success against it is running the ball. Now, keep in mind that everything is relative and this won’t be any easy task either, but the potential is there.

San Francisco’s run defense has given up an average of 112.6 rushing yards per game this season, which is about middle of the road. And it includes seven games where the opposing team has rushed for over 120 yards.

Not to mention that if Green Bay can establish the run, it is going to make life easier for Aaron Rodgers and the passing game. As I mentioned above, the Niners’ pass-rush and pass defense is superb and if their defensive front is able to pin their ears back knowing a pass is coming while the secondary can play for it as well, all I have to say is: good luck.

We saw that recipe play out in Week 12 when the Packers fell behind by multiple scores fairly quickly and eventually became one-dimensional. If that happens, they won’t beat this Niners’ team. Another example was just last Sunday where Minnesota’s offense totaled 147 yards and while there were a number of factors that contributed to their lack-luster performance, Dalvin Cook only having nine carries certainly didn’t help.

While there have been a few times this year that Matt LaFleur has gone away from Aaron Jones, he’s been making sure to feature his star running back in recent weeks. Over the last three games, Jones has played 52, 75, and 53 snaps with 23 carries, 25 carries, and 21 carries, respectively.

This is the formula that the Green Bay Packers need to use once again. Even if it is tough sledding at times for Jones, just as it was against Seattle, San Francisco needs to respect the run. Which then will hopefully open up things a bit for the passing game.

It’s no secret that this Packers’ offense has been better and even looked different when ran through Aaron Jones this season. And if they can find success in the ground game, it will have a positive trickle-down effect to the rest of the offense.