The Green Bay Packers are one of only three teams in the NFL to have allowed over 1,000 rushing yards and 50 or more receptions to the running back position through nine weeks in 2019.
Up next for Mike Pettine’s defense: The most dangerous and productive dual-threat running back in the game.
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is nothing short of a nightmare matchup for the Packers.
McCaffrey ranks first in the NFL in rushing yards per game (110.1), rushing touchdowns (10), yards from scrimmage (1,244) and total touchdowns (13). He’s second in the NFL in rushing yards (881), and second among running backs in yards per carry (5.3) and third in catches (42) and receiving yards (383).
He could add to those numbers in a major way on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
The Packers have allowed the third-most rushing yards (1,036), second-most touchdowns (10) and fifth-most receptions to the running back position this season. On Sunday in Los Angeles, Chargers running backs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler combined for 202 total yards and two scores against Pettine’s struggling defense.
After nine games, the Packers are allowing the ninth-most rushing yards per game and eighth-highest per carry average. They’ve struggled to both play gap-sound football in the front seven and tackle in the open field, a potentially devastating combination of flaws against a player like McCaffrey.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said opponents are going to keep doing the same things until his defense can prove capable of stopping it. That should mean a heavy dose of No. 22 from the visitors on Sunday, especially with backup Kyle Allen in line to make another start.
Against the Titans last week, McCaffery ran 24 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yarder, and caught three passes for 20 yards and a third score. He’s produced 100 or more total yards in six of eight games. He’s scored in seven of eight games.
The Packers should know what kind of weapon McCaffrey can be. In 2017, during his rookie season, McCaffrey produced 136 total yards and caught a touchdown pass during the Panthers’ win, which all but eliminated the Packers from playoff contention.
LaFleur’s team faces a big challenge in bouncing back from Sunday’s humbling loss in Los Angeles. They’ll have to wake up from that nightmare quick because another one is quickly approaching Lambeau Field.
