Packers: Top five performers in Week 8 loss vs. Rams

5. Aaron Jones

The good news is Aaron Jones got the most carries he has all year. The bad news? It still wasn’t enough.

Jones finished the game with 12 carries for 86 yards and a touchdown for a 7.2 yards-per-carry average.

There’s some deception in those numbers. Eight carries and 44 of those yards were in the first half. And 33 of those second half yards came on one carry. That means Jones only had three other carries in the second half when the Packers needed him most.

I just don’t get it. How on earth is Jones not the featured back by now?

On a pivotal fourth-quarter drive, Jones wasn’t even on the field to start. The drive started with an incomplete pass to Ty Montgomery, and then Jones was inserted and proceeded to get four yards on a second-down carry.

I know I’m not alone on this; a second-and-six in that situation would have looked much better than the third-and-six the Packers got.

I just don’t understand.

To his credit, Jones is saying all the right things. Despite having every reason to question his playing time, he hasn’t and plays the good teammate. But McCarthy’s stubbornness to not stick with Jones is costing this team.

On defense, the Packers can use this game for motivation and proof they can hang with the big boys. Yes, they gave up 29 points, but for most of the game they kept the Rams in check and off balance.

If the offense could’ve scored a little more, the pressure would have been squarely on the shoulders of Jared Goff and the Rams offense.

On offense, the Packers still have more questions than answers. The usage of the running backs is the biggest one. Play-calling another.