Showtyme: Packers’ Path to Victory Runs Through Aaron Jones
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It's showtime.
Or, when the lights are on at AT&T Stadium on Sunday for the playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers will be hoping it's Showtyme.
Yes, the Packers have gotten to the NFC playoffs with a surprise season that has them at 9-8 after falling to a low point of 2-5 during the regular season.
Jordan Love has received rave reviews for his performance down the stretch, and deservedly so, as he finished second in the NFL in touchdown passes behind the man he'll face on Sunday, Dak Prescott.
Despite all the attention paid to the passing game and young receivers, the offense has been speared by a familiar face.
That's right. Despite age, injuries and claims around social platforms that his position does not matter, the Packers' best player is still Aaron Jones.
His re-emergence has been vital in helping propel the Packers to the playoffs, and could be again if they can borrow the winning recipe used by the Buffalo Bills against the Cowboys a few weeks ago.
Jones was set to be the focal point of Green Bay's offense when they broke training camp. With the youngest offense in the league, coach Matt LaFleur was looking to lean on his veteran running back as the passing offense tried to find its way.
Unfortunately for Jones and the Packers, injuries got in the way.
Jones was having a big day against the Chicago Bears in the season opener with more than 100 all-purpose yards before a hamstring injury knocked him out of the next two games.
Jones returned for a Thursday night game against Detroit but was on rep limits as he worked his way back. His usage would be limited until he injured his knee against the Los Angeles Chargers, which kept him out until the middle of December.
“Definitely tough,” Jones said of his season that was riddled with injuries. “A lot of time spent just trying to get your body back right. Long hours spent into it, weeks on weeks on weeks, and you get to a point where you start to question yourself."
In his return to the lineup, Jones had a big start against Tampa Bay but his usage was limited again, which could have led to more of those questions.
Over the last three weeks, though, Jones has emphatically answered any question that may have existed.
Jones was the team's first 100-yard rusher of the season on Christmas Eve against the Carolina Panthers. Then, he ran for more than 100 yards in each of the next two games against top-10 run defenses.
Moreover, over the last three weeks, Jones led the league in rushing.
The Packers needed to win all three games in order to make the postseason, so the timing could not have been better.'
The old saying in football circles is that a run game and defense will travel anywhere.
Slowing down Dallas' offense is a different challenge, especially in their home stadium. The Cowboys average 37.5 points per game at home.
What's the best way to attack an offense like that?
Green Bay's defense is going to have to do its part, for sure, but its offense could be its best defense. Keeping Prescott on the sideline and cashing in with touchdowns feels like the best path to victory.
The Buffalo Bills certainly found their way to victory against Dallas along the same path.
The Bills are not known for their run game; they averaged the same amount of yards per carry as the Packers this season.
Nonetheless, when they demolished the Cowboys 31-10 on Dec. 17, they overpowered the Dallas defense for 266 rushing yards. James Cook carried 25 times for 179 yards, a performance fueled by his five runs of 12-plus yards. Star quarterback Josh Allen completed only seven passes.
With all due respect to Cook, he is not the player that Jones is yet.
Jones also has had success at AT&T Stadium.
His first 100-yard game as a rookie was in Dallas in 2017.
In 2019, Jones scored four touchdowns and had a signature moment when he waved goodbye to a Cowboys defender chasing him as he crossed the goal line.
Maybe it's the effect of Jones playing in his home state.
“Just going back home,” Jones said to reporters earlier in the week. "It was my childhood team growing up. And then back home in El Paso, there’s a lot of Cowboys fans. I like to walk the streets with some peace of mind, not worrying about having to hear them talk. I feel like that’s the biggest thing.”
The biggest thing now for the Packers is winning.
Their best player has found his footing, and he'll be looking to silence those hometown fans one more time.
