Green Bay Packers: 5 Reasons they can beat 49ers in NFC Championship
By Joe Kipp
5. Aaron Jones will be utilized much more
The secret is out: Aaron Jones is one of the best running backs in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Packers, they didn’t treat him as such in the team’s last meeting with the 49ers. In Week 12’s game, Jones was on the field for just 52 percent of the offensive snaps, finishing with just 13 carries for 38 yards and no receptions. He saw just one target in the passing game.
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Jones has logged a higher snap percentage in every game since the loss to the Niners, which includes playing 85 and 84 percent of offensive snaps over the last two games. Coach Matt LaFleur admitted to not getting Jones enough opportunities against San Fran the first go-around and has been using Jones as the unquestioned workhorse back over the past three weeks. Perhaps this was his plan all along.
Jones has carried the ball 25, 23, and 21 times, respectively, over the last three games, a signal that LaFleur knows that Jones is one of the biggest keys to offensive success. After all, there’s a reason the talented Jones has scored 21 touchdowns in 17 games this season.
The Packers must give Jones at least 20 opportunities, particularly in the passing game, if they’re to have a chance at pulling off an upset in the NFC Championship.