Packers target Panthers' porous run defense in Thursday Night clash
Green Bay enters Week 8 as a 4-3 team seeking revenge against a Carolina squad that has surrendered a league-high 5.2 yards per carry.
By Sophie Zhang ·
The Green Bay Packers will host the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field on Thursday Night Football, seeking to extend a recent winning run against a divisional rival. The game serves as a critical test for Green Bay, which currently holds a 4-3 record and sits last in the NFC North. The Packers enter the contest as 3.5-point favorites at bet365.
The matchup presents a distinct strategic advantage for Green Bay's offense. The Panthers have allowed a league-high 5.2 yards per rush this season, a vulnerability that cost them heavily in a 43-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Carolina surrendered 258 rushing yards and three touchdowns to Tampa Bay, providing a clear blueprint for the Packers to exploit.
Josh Jacobs, who made his season debut last week, will aim to capitalize on this defensive weakness. Although the Packers' rushing attack ranks dead last in the NFL with 2.9 yards per carry, Jacobs produced 93 scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown in his first game. Green Bay hopes his presence will break the logjam against a Carolina defense that has struggled to contain the run.
The Panthers' defensive struggles extend beyond the ground game. Quarterback Bryce Young faced pressure on 51.5 percent of his dropbacks in Sunday's loss to the Bucs and is under league-high 44.3 percent pressure against four or fewer rushers this season. The injury to starting right tackle Taylor Moton, who is out for the season, exacerbates the protection issues for Young. Green Bay's defense has recorded seven of its league-leading nine interceptions without blitzing, allowing them to generate pressure while maintaining coverage.
The Packers' path to victory may also depend on minimizing special teams errors, as botched kicks contributed to their recent loss to the Lions. The Panthers lead the NFC South with a 3-3 record but have shown inconsistent performance, scoring an average of 26.5 points per game while struggling with pass protection. Green Bay's defense, ranked second in EPA per play over the last four weeks, aims to prevent a repeat of last year's 16-13 upset, where the Panthers covered a 13.5-point spread.
Source: New York Post
