Green Bay Packers: Aaron Jones key to offensive success

The Green Bay Packers offense now runs through Aaron Jones, who had a breakout performance on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

The secret is out. If Aaron Jones touches the ball, good things happen. For the Green Bay Packers, Jones was the main catalyst for offensive success against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, as he racked up 172 yards and two touchdowns on 18 touches.

The Packers offense showed it had the right recipe for success from the get-go. On the first drive alone, Jones rushed for 27 yards while adding 27 yards through the air. Green Bay drove down the field with a purpose, which was capped off by a seven-yard Davante Adams’ touchdown reception. There was seemingly nothing the Dolphins could have done to stop them.

To start the next drive, Mike McCarthy stuck with the hot hand at running back — a philosophy he subscribes to when it comes to rushing the ball — and Jones entered the game once again. On the very first play of the drive, Jones rattled off a 67-yard run, putting the Packers at first-and-goal inside the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Jones ran it in for a two-yard touchdown.

The Packers’ success continued whenever Jones was in the game, although he did have two false start penalties called against him. Nonetheless, 145 rushing yards on 15 carries was more than enough to make up for his mistakes. Additionally, Jones ran for a first down or a touchdown on 53-percent of his rushing attempts, per Pro Football Focus’ game recap.

Jones’ breakout performance against the Dolphins was something many Packers fans had foreshadowed since he returned from his two-game suspension earlier this season. It took a while for to gain back his starting role, likely because McCarthy wanted to make him “earn it.”

He finally earned his place after the Week 7 bye, though, and since taking over as the lead back he’s recorded 40 carries for 306 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Jones also leads the NFL with a whopping 6.8 yards per carry.

Aaron Rodgers had great things to say about Jones at his post-game presser, saying (via FOX 11):

"“He’s a really good back — a slasher, fast, tough to take down. The first guy doesn’t bring him down a whole lot. He did a good job for us tonight, caught the ball well on the first drive and did a nice job in [pass] protection.”"

Pass protection has been an underrated part of Jones’ game, and with performances like he had against the Dolphins, it’ll only help his chances of seeing the field for extended periods.

Currently, Jones has 494 rush yards and four rushing touchdowns on the season. Based on his 6.8 yards per carry, it may not be a stretch to see him reach 1,000 rushing yards by the end of the season, which would make him the first Packers running back to do so since Eddie Lacy in 2014.