The Green Bay Packers took over at midfield with 2:41 left and an eight-point lead Thursday night, and Josh Jacobs carried five times on the possession for six yards.
Jordan Love’s seven-yard throw to Christian Watson on third-and-2 produced the drive’s only first down. Green Bay punted with 30 seconds left and closed out a 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field.
The Packers ran 26 times for 66 yards, 2.5 yards per carry. Jacobs had 21 of the carries for 39 yards, with a long of six.
Savion Williams’ 18-yard end-around was Green Bay’s longest run.
Jacobs scored twice, on a one-yard run and a four-yard catch. He caught six passes for 13 yards.
Thursday was his second game back after he missed the first six while on the NFL’s commissioner exempt list.
On Sept. 24, in their previous Thursday game, the Packers ran for 17 yards in a 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said the offensive line has gotten a lot better in pass protection, which is helping Green Bay survive while it tries to figure out the run game.
“It was disappointing. I would say it’s disappointing. Obviously got the one first down, and then we tried to lean on the run game, and we went backwards,” LaFleur said. “That’s an area of emphasis that we have to improve upon because it puts a lot of pressure on our pass game to continue to find ways to move the ball down the field.”
“We have got to find something that we can hang our hat on in the run game,” LaFleur continued. “Unfortunately, we have not done that yet.”
Green Bay went 3-for-3 in the red zone, and Jacobs scored on two of the trips. Even that led LaFleur back to the run game.
“I think we had a good plan, and the guys went out there and executed the plan. You always scheme things up. I go back to the run game,” LaFleur explained. “It’s a lot easier on everything when you’re able to run the ball. And we did have a couple good runs down there, which was a positive.”
“But we also schemed some stuff up, I thought, that was there,” LaFleur added. “And those guys did a great job of going out there and executing their assignments.”
Late in games is when the Packers have to be able to lean on the run, Love said.
“Just the dynamic player that he is in the pass game and the run game. It’s amazing to have him back out there,” Love said. “And yeah, it’s two games in for him. He’s missed a lot of games. So yeah, he’s going to keep getting rolling, things like that. We talk about it.”
“You look at the stats. Our run game still isn’t what we talk about where it needs to be,” Love continued. “But yeah, he had two touchdowns tonight. So just looking at that. That’s what he’s capable of and that’s what he helps bring to the offense. So we’ll keep leaning on him, keep finding ways to give him the rock. But he’s a dynamic player, he does it in the pass and the run game. So it’s great to have him back.”
Green Bay, now 5-3, visits the New England Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT.
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