Aaron Jones needs to be an impact player again
Just more than a month ago, or about the midway point of the NFL regular season, a buzz started to circulate around the NFL about Aaron Jones.
The Packers young and talented running back was starting to flash his immense talents and there was chatter that he could creep into the MVP conversation. Jones, after all, was playing an integral role in the Packers’ surprising success.
Jones had already recorded two, 100-yard plus performances just five games into the season and he was a game changer in the Packers’ convincing 34-24 victory over the Cowboys, gaining 107 yards on the grounds and 75 more via the pass. He racked up four touchdowns.
How times have changed.
Today, when the Packers host the Redskins at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Jones and the Packers are undoubtedly hoping he breaks out of a prolonged slump. He hasn’t produced a 100-yard rushing game since the Dallas encounter on Oct. 6 – a stretch of seven games.
What’s more, Jones really hasn’t come close to the century mark except on one occasions when he totaled 93 yards against the Panthers three games ago. In five of the last seven games, he managed 50 or fewer yards. In the last two games, he’s totaled a combined 56 yards, including a meager 18 against the Giants last week.
Suffice to say, if the Packers want to be certifiable players in the playoffs and make a deep run in them, Jones has to regain the impressive form he exhibited in the first half of the season.
Today appears to be the perfect time for that to occur. The Redskins’ run defense is abysmal. Of the 32 teams in Roger Goodell’s NFL kingdom, the Redskins rank 27th against the run, surrendering 131.6 yards a game on the ground.
Jones should thrive, but if he doesn’t and has yet another lackluster showing, there has to be serious concerns about the Packers heading into the playoffs.
Prediction: Packers 30, Redskins 20.
