Aaron Jones has enjoyed a fine start to the 2020 season, picking up from where he left off in the previous campaign for the Green Bay Packers. The 25-year-old put the Detroit Lions to the sword, rushing for 168 yards and two touchdowns along with another 68 receiving yards and a score.
Jones’ record-breaking performance backed up the display from Aaron Rodgers in the opener against the Minnesota Vikings when the quarterback threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns in a dominant victory. The results have handed the Packers the control of the NFC North in the early stages of the season, although the Chicago Bears have shown signs of life with Mitchell Trubisky.
However, Matt LaFleur will be confident that his team can win the North and close in on the top seed in the NFC this term. It eluded the franchise last season, which ultimately cost them against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. This year more than ever – earning the top seed is vital to secure the one bye week available due to the expansion of the playoffs to seven teams per conference.
Controlling their games and the NFC Conference is well within their capabilities, especially because of the talent of Rodgers and now Jones developing into one of the best running backs in the league. Davante Adams also lays claim to being among the best wideouts in the NFL. With that trifecta of excellence on offense – there is great hope that the Packers can end their 10-year drought without a Super Bowl.
The schedule appears to be in their favor, considering the injuries sustained by the 49ers, which could knock them out of contention in the NFC. There are familiar foes such as the Atlanta Falcons on the horizon, who defeated the Packers in the 2016 NFC Championship Game. The two teams face off on Monday Night Football in week 4, where the form of Green Bay and the wilting nature of the Falcons would suggest that a wager on LaFleur’s men would be the sensible move, although the Packers have to navigate the tough task of the New Orleans Saints first. LaFleur and the rest of the team are likely to be keeping an eye on this week’s Monday Night Football game, though, as the Kansas City Chiefs face the Baltimore Ravens in what could easily be a dress rehearsal for the AFC Championship game.
The Packers will be favored in a lot of their remaining games and coping with those expectations will be difficult, but the experience in the ranks should allow them to hold their composure. Jones’ form allows them to control matches, using his running ability to take time off the clock and allow the team to play the game at their pace. The arm of Rodgers is there to provide the knockout punch, with the connection to Adams downfield being the most deadly in the NFL.
LaFleur is proving to be the steady at the helm. A 13-3 record should have been enough to secure the number one seed last term, but the competitive nature of the NFC saw three teams win 13 games or more. The Packers have to be aiming for that mark again and it’s well within their grasp to capture the number-one seed and earn home-field advantage. They’re not going to score 40 points a game on a regular basis, but proving that they are efficient and composed under pressure will be a good omen for a playoff run. The offense has not always fired amid adversity in the post-season – stretching back nine years. With three elite players operating at the peak of their powers, this campaign could very well be different and end in the Vince Lombardi trophy returning to Titletown.