Saints’ run defense has a daunting challenge ahead in Green Bay

Josh Jacobs, the NFL’s third-leading rusher, faces the Saints, the sixth-worst run defense, on Monday. Advantage: Packers

The Green Bay Packers have the ability to exploit the New Orleans Saints in their weakest area defensively: the run defense. The defensive line has been praised for their improvements since moving to Brian Young as the position coach, but those improvements are in the pass rush department.

New Orleans has the sixth-worst run defense in the NFL. They did a better job against Brian Robinson, but the degree of difficulty rises on Monday.

New Orleans will have to take on the task of stopping Josh Jacobs on Monday night. The temperatures are expected to be below freezing when the Saints step onto Lambeau Field.

Northerners will call that football weather. That’s up for debate, but you can expect the Packers to come out running the football.

Jacobs is the third-leading rusher in the NFL, behind only Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley. In addition to ranking third in rushing yards, Jacobs also has the third-most attempts and fourth-most rushing touchdowns in the league. The Packers use him frequently and efficiently. It’s vital that the Saints figure out how to slow him down. If he builds some momentum this one could get away from them in a hurry.