Josh Jacobs was unstoppable in Week 2.
Aaron Jones had an incredible career with the Green Bay Packers. He is one of the best running backs in franchise history.
Josh Jacobs is a different player and brings something new to the Packers’ backfield. Without Jordan Love against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, Green Bay needed to adapt to a run-heavy game plan, something we rarely see from the pass-first Packers.
That’s not Jones’ strength, but it’s something Jacobs is capable of. Jones has only had more than 20 carries in a game six times in his NFL career. His career-high is 25 attempts in a 2019 victory over the Detroit Lions.
The Packers needed Jacobs to become the workhorse back against the Colts, and he delivered a historic performance.
Josh Jacobs joins the record books in Packers’ win over Colts in Week 2
The Colts’ defense had no answer for Jacobs, who rushed 32 times for 151 yards. Had it not been for a goal-line fumble, he would’ve scored his first Packers touchdown. He had another called back on a penalty, which he only discovered after performing his first Lambeau Leap.
Jacobs became only the 15th player in Packers history to carry the ball 30 times in a game, and he joined an elite club of only seven running backs to hit 32 attempts. According to Cheesehead TV’s Aaron Nagler, Jacobs’ 235 rushing yards this season are the most by any Packers player in their first two games for the team.
Indianapolis knew Green Bay wanted to run the ball. The Packers had no choice with a quarterback who had less than three weeks to learn the playbook. But the Colts still couldn’t stop Jacobs.
General manager Brian Gutekunst is the real winner. His two big free-agent additions have delivered this season. Xavier McKinney has two interceptions, while Jacobs has made an immediate impact on the ground.
Gutekunst also looks good for his decision to replace Jones with Jacobs. No disrespect is intended to Jones—he is still an incredible player and a Packers legend. But at this stage of their respective careers, Jacobs has more to offer Matt LaFleur’s offense. While the Packers will prefer not to give the All-Pro 30-plus carries in a game, he proved he can handle the workload when they need him to.
Jacobs made a slow start in the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he has been unstoppable ever since. In the past six quarters of play, the former first-round pick has rushed 42 times for 231 yards at an impressive 5.5 yards per attempt.
The Packers’ decision to make a running back change in the offseason was the correct one.