Throw to run: It's not the week for the Packers scuffling run game to get going

Josh Jacobs and Co. haven't found a groove toting the rock yet, and the Cleveland Browns defense isn't likely to let them find their rhythm this week. That means attacking with Jordan Love.

The first two weeks of the Green Bay Packers season gave us an answer as to why Matt LaFleur leaned so heavily on his run game last year: Jordan Love was hurt. In 2024, the Packers offense featured the most run-heavy approach in the NFL outside of Philadelphia. This year, they’ve come out chucking it, ranking in the top 10 in pass rate. If Green Bay is going to fend off an upset in Cleveland in Weeek 3, they’ll have to stay explosive through the air because this is not the week to get Josh Jacobs and the ground game rolling.

A shuffling offensive line hasn’t helped, but the Packers ground game hasn’t found its footing yet in 2025. Jacobs averages under four yards per carry and managed only 84 yards on 23 totes against the Commanders. Lanes opened up for him more in the second half when the Washington defense wore down on a short week, and perhaps the Green Bay offense can rely on that against the Cleveland Browns whose defense let up 14 fourth-quarter points to end the game in a blowout in Week 2.

Still, the behemoth Derrick Henry finished Week 2 with 23 yards on 11 carries. As a team, the Baltimore Ravens scraped together 45 rushing yards on 21 carries. This is one of the most dynamic, explosive run games of this century, and the Browns locked them down. Lamar Jackson tossed four touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter that helped Baltimore pull away, but this was a 10-3 Ravens lead at halftime.

Division games can be weird, as the Packers and Bears proved last year. Remember, the Browns beat the Ravens a season ago as well. Even good teams are vulnerable to off weeks or wonky halves, particularly against divisional opponents, and the Browns play unlike most other teams.

Jim Schwartz is the only defensive coordinator in the NFL who has his defense playing man coverage over half the time. They play the highest rate of pure man coverage in the NFL at 46%. Second-highest? The Packers’ Week 2 opponent, the Washington Commanders at 38%.