Jacobs Targets Panthers' Weak Run Defense in Thursday Night Clash

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs enters Thursday Night Football with a specific target: a Carolina Panthers defense that has given up the most yards per carry in the NFL. The game is set for Thursday at Lambeau Field, where Green Bay holds a 4-3 record and sits last in the NFC North.

The Packers are listed as 3.5-point favorites against the Panthers, who lead the NFC South with a 3-3 record. Green Bay lost its three-game winning streak against the Detroit Lions the previous weekend, but the team remains competitive in the standings. The odds at bet365 place the home side at -105.

Carolina’s defensive line faces a difficult task stopping Jacobs, who made his season debut last week. Despite the Packers ranking last in yards per carry with a 2.9 average, Jacobs recorded 93 scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown in his first appearance. The Panthers have surrendered 5.2 yards per carry this season, a league-high figure that includes a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where they allowed 258 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The matchup also tests the Panthers' pass protection. Quarterback Bryce Young has faced pressure on a league-high 44.3 percent of dropbacks against four or fewer rushers. In Sunday’s 43-13 loss to Tampa Bay, Young was sacked five times and pressured on 51.5 percent of his dropbacks. The team recently lost starting right tackle Taylor Moton to a season-ending injury, which further strains the offensive line.

Green Bay’s defense offers a counterbalance. The Packers have generated seven of their league-leading nine interceptions without using blitzes. This approach allows them to pressure Young while maintaining coverage against a pass-heavy offense. Young has completed fewer than 55 percent of his passes in three of his last four starts, indicating a potential regression in the passing game.

The teams met last year when the Packers lost 16-13 as 13.5-point favorites. Green Bay’s defense has ranked second in EPA per play over the last four weeks. The current season sees the Panthers scoring a healthy 26.5 points per game, but their porous run defense and pass protection issues remain persistent challenges for the offense.