The Green Bay Packers are the NFL leaders in both total rushing yards and takeaways through two weeks of the 2024 season.
The Packers have 424 rushing yards, 29 more than the second-place Los Angeles Chargers. Green Bay rushed for 163 yards in Week 1 in Brazil and 261 yards in the home opener on Sunday. The Packers are averaging 5.7 yards per rush, second-best in the NFL, and the rushing offense has an NFL-best 13 designed runs gaining 10 or more yards, including six from Josh Jacobs.
Speaking of Jacobs, his 235 rushing yards rank third in the NFL. Jayden Reed ranks first among wide receivers with 70 rushing yards, and he’s gained at least 10 yards on all three rushing attempts, including a 33-yard touchdown in the opener. Backup Emanuel Wilson had a pair of runs over 10 yards in the opener.
According to Pro Football Focus, Packers runners have forced 16 missed tackles and gained 275 yards after first contact — suggesting a combination of blocking up front and skill from runners is creating a dynamic ground game.
Five different runners have a rushing attempt of 15 or more yards through two games: Jacobs, Reed, Malik Willis, Wilson and Bo Melton. Matt LaFleur hasn’t been afraid to be versatile in the run game, especially with Jordan Love missing time with a knee injury.
Per Next Gen Stats, Jacobs, Reed and Wilson have combined for 125 Rushing Yards Over Expected (RYOE), again suggesting the rushing talent is creating big plays. Jacobs is second in the NFL with +62 RYOE through two games. Despite a down year in 2023, Jacobs looks back to the elite version of himself as a runner.
Defensively, the Packers have six takeaways, including an NFL-best five interceptions. Only two other teams have five takeaways — the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints. Jeff Hafley’s defense has three takeaways in each game to start the season. Prized free agent addition Xavier McKinney has a pair of picks. Jaire Alexander intercepted a pass in the end zone in Week 1, while Eric Wilson halted a second-half drive in Packers territory with a pick in Week 2. Evan Williams ended the game Sunday by intercepting a Hail Mary. The Packers have even dropped a few picks, notably a potential pick-six by Keisean Nixon in Week 1 and what would have been a game-ender on the final drive Sunday by Quay Walker.
Obviously, the 2024 season is only two weeks old. Things can change fast in the NFL. But the early returns in the run game and taking the ball away are encouraging for Matt LaFleur’s team.
The Packers were a dominant run team to end the 2023 season, helping power the late-season surge. Swapping out Aaron Jones for Jacobs didn’t halt the momentum at all; in fact, Jacobs has been a terrific fit, and he looks explosive and difficult to tackle early on. Up front, LaFleur challenged the Packers offensive line to win the game Sunday, and they delivered time and time again.
On defense, LaFleur and Hafley both prioritized takeaways after the Packers intercepted only seven passes in the final year of Joe Barry’s run as defensive coordinator in 2023. It appears the Packers will blow past that number early in 2024. LaFleur pointed to a “vision-based” scheme for why the Packers are getting their hands on so many passes to start this season. Pressure and better talent — particularly with McKinney at safety — have helped aid the takeaway revival.
Up next is a trip to play the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. The Titans have allowed only 185 total rushing yards and 4.0 yards per carry this season, but Tennessee has turned the ball over five times, including three interceptions and two lost fumbles by second-year quarterback Will Levis.
