Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs are both hot at the right time.
The Green Bay Packers are on a roll. Yes, they lost to the Detroit Lions two weeks ago, but in that game — and in the other four games since their bye week in mid-November — the team’s offense has been one of the most consistent and effective in the NFL.
The offense has registered at least +11 Expected Points Added in each of those five games, a stretch that few teams can match. (Yes, the Detroit Lions have done that too.) And not surprisingly, that hot streak has coincided with both Josh Jacobs and Jordan Love, the team’s top two stars on offense, hitting their stride.
Love’s second-half surge has been well-documented and matches up with a similar hot streak last season. But Jacobs’ last five games, though they have not always come with big rushing efficiency numbers, have seen him put up big total yardage numbers as well as a huge surge in touchdowns.
Heading into the bye week, Jacobs had just four touchdowns on the season. He has 9 in the last five games, pushing his season total to 13. He also has eight games with at least 100 scrimmage yards, and four of those have come in the last five weeks.
And now, the picking and the weather are ripe for another big performance from the running game heading towards Monday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. With a chance to clinch a playoff spot, the Packers should come out motivated and on paper, they are by far the better team given the mass of injuries that the Saints are dealing with.
If the team’s stars just keep doing what they have been doing over the last month-plus, Monday — and the rest of this season — should be a lot of fun.
Packers QB Jordan Love showcasing ‘the best ball he’s played’ | Packers.com
Praise be to Toyotathon.
Packers Star Josh Jacobs Is ‘Almost Like Wolverine’ | SI.com
Jacobs’ 265 carries are the 15th-most for a Packers running back in a season overall and the most since Eddie Lacy had 284 in 2013. If he runs the ball 20 times on Monday night — which seems feasible given the expected weather — he would pass Lacy for 7th place.
Packers’ Christian Watson is reaping the rewards of his early-season patience – The Athletic ($)
It took a bit for Watson to get going this season, but over the last five weeks he has really turned it on as a big-play receiver.
Saints to start QB Rattler if Carr out; RB Kamara likely out – ESPN
Meanwhile, the Saints will all but assuredly start Rattler at quarterback, but he could very well be missing the team’s one truly dynamic offensive weapon in Alvin Kamara, whose groin injury appears to be fairly serious.
Quay Walker, Javon Bullard not practicing for Packers to start on-field prep for Saints | Packers Wire
No Kamara could be important, especially if Walker is not able to go in the middle of the defense.
Finally, let’s take a quick look at one Packers player who would not let a little inclement weather stop him from making it to work on Thursday:
Snow, what snow?
Ain’t no stopping Eric Wilson and his from getting to practice. pic.twitter.com/vb7J443McY
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 19, 2024
Wilson will likely start at middle linebacker if Walker is out on Sunday, so getting those reps in during practice this week is extra important.