Dallas defense ranked last vs. run but has other concerns coming to Green Bay

Mike Spofford

GREEN BAY It's not exactly the irresistible force meets the immovable object. It's actually quite the opposite.

The Packers come into Sunday night's game at Lambeau Field with the league's least productive ground game, while the Cowboys bring the league's worst run defense.

If there were ever a time for the Packers' struggling running game to find better footing and take a huge step forward -- right beforeJosh Jacobscomes off the commissioner's exempt list -- this is it.

"We come out and work on it every day," new guardLaken Tomlinsonsaid. "Sunday is our best chance to show what we can do."

Since Tomlinson took over at left guard,Travis Gloverstepped in at right guard, andAnthony Beltongot settled in at right tackle in the wake ofZach Bako-Bewele's season-ending knee injury, the ground game has shown signs of life.

While the Packers' season average of 60.4 rushing yards per game remains an eyesore, the 156 yards the past two weeks tops the 146 from the first three.

There are still too many zero-yard or negative runs that have created tough down-and-distance situations. But in that mix the past two games have been three explosive runs of 20-plus yards one by the since-injuredChris Brooksand two byKaleb Johnsonalong with the team's first two rushing touchdowns on the season, both byMarShawn Lloydlast week against the Bears.

Those were also Lloyd's first two career rushing touchdowns, as the 2024 third-round draft pick continues to adjust to the pro game after two years lost to injuries. He's slowly but surely starting to show why the Packers invested a top 100 draft pick in him 2 years ago, and they're placing faith in his continued progress with Jacobs' pending return to action on the horizon.

"For running backs, it's continue to grow with each run play," quarterbackJordan Lovesaid. "Understand the aiming points, where we're trying to hit those runs at, and I think there's a lot more out there for us in the run game.

"We're going to keep cleaning it up, keep getting better, but it's definitely something we're going to have to lean out throughout the course of the season."

Perhaps as soon as Sunday night. A porous Dallas defense surrendering nearly 400 yards per game is allowing a bottom-ranked 168.4 on the ground, which is a dozen rushing yards per game worse than the 31st-ranked team (Carolina) and 20 yards worse than 30th (New Orleans).

But as much as they're struggling to stop the run, against the Packers, the Cowboys probably have to be more concerned about all the big pass plays Green Bay hit down the field against the Bears last Sunday. If they come out to take those away, the Packers will have to run the ball well, and it becomes a golden opportunity to do so.

Could the Packers post their first 100-yard rushing game as a team this season, after a high of 86 through five games? Not only is it possible, it might be necessary if the Cowboys try to keep a lid on the back end.

"The run game is literally a game of inches,"Tucker Kraftsaid. "Whether that's how long you spend on your combo (block) before you climb to the second level, or where your second-level target is, it's a game of discipline and aggression. So we just need to keep bringing it every week and we need to get the running game going."

They'll try to do so Sunday night against a pair of familiar faces on the Dallas defensive front, Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary. They flank the anchor of the Cowboys' unit, four-time Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams.

Head Coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich have preached the need for more consistency and efficiency, not just the flashes of potential that have thus far proven unreliable. "Can you stay ahead of the sticks?" was the question LaFleur asked rhetorically on Friday.

Tomlinson believes that's about to shift, with the ground game "100%" headed in the right direction.

"I feel like that game is coming," he said. "That game is coming. We gotta keep grinding at it, keep working at it every day, and we're going to get that game.

"We're going to get that game."