GREEN BAY – Josh Jacobs walked into the Packers' offensive meetings on Thursday morning oblivious of his proximity to possibly achieving NFL history this weekend.
During the third-down presentation, the Pro Bowl running back was made aware that with one more rushing touchdown this Sunday in Cleveland he'd become just the fifth player in league history to register a rushing TD in 12 consecutive games (including playoffs).
Doing so would put Jacobs in elite company. In fact, no running back has even realized a 12-game streak with a rushing TD since San Diego Chargers great LaDainian Tomlinson in 2004.
That year, the Pro Football Hall of Famer joined John Riggins (15 straight games in 1983), Emmitt Smith (14 in 1995 and 13 from 1994-95), and George Rogers (13 in 1985-86) in that exclusive club. Jacobs already owns the franchise record with 10 consecutive regular-season games with a touchdown.
"I actually just found out today," Jacobs said after Thursday's practice. "They just brought it up in the meeting today. I don't really know too much about it."
Records are cool, but fueling Jacobs' mindset is the fact he feels Green Bay could – and should – run the ball even better than it has in the red zone through the first two weeks of the season.
Jacobs and Co. have had the deck stacked against them somewhat. Both Detroit and Washington loaded the box against the Packers, a trend likely to continue this Sunday against the Browns and their single-high-heavy defense.
The proof is in the production. Cleveland and Green Bay are the only two teams that have yet to allow more than 100 combined rushing yards through the first two weeks of the season.
The Packers have been preaching patience with Jacobs, who's still rushed for the eighth-most yards in the league (150) through the first two games. The key is getting "the big one" to break.
"We've even had (opposing) coordinators that have said our mission is to stop Josh," running backs coach Ben Sirmans said.
"It's like I tell these guys all the time. If they're not preparing for you, then they don't respect you. If they don't respect you, that means that they don't respect your game and what you're putting out there. That's a good thing and it's a challenge for you."
A year into the Jacobs era, the Packers have rediscovered their footing running inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Last season, Green Bay finished top 10 in red-zone offense for the first time since leading the NFL in 2020.
Jacobs rushed for 15 touchdowns during his Pro Bowl campaign, the third most by a running back in a single season in team history.
Fourteen of those came over the final 10 games, the most by a Packers running back over a 10-game span in a single season since Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Taylor had 16 in 1962 (Oct. 14-Dec. 16).
The streak started during a 20-19 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 11 and included a pair of three-TD performances (vs. San Francisco in Week 12 and at Detroit in Week 14).
"The guy just creates plays," said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich of Jacobs. "He's just got a knack for finding the seam, getting in the end zone. It's just a big confidence boost when you get down inside the 5-yard line, give him the ball a couple times and you got a touchdown."
Jacobs' most recent score saw the 5-foot-10, 223-pound running back put Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu on his back while barreling into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter of an eventual 27-18 win over the Commanders.
It was Jacobs' 15th touchdown run during his 11-game streak and his 12th TD from inside the 4-yard line. Jacobs' no-surrender attitude in goal-to-go situations not only puts points on the boards but also can have an energizing effect on an entire football team.
"Having a guy like that helps you out," right guard Sean Rhyan said. "We're juiced up, just gonna try to get all our backs some light and hopefully keep that streak going for him."
Jacobs has generated 223 total yards in two previous victories over the Browns but left without a rushing TD, one of only eight teams Jacobs has faced multiple times but not scored against.
The 27-year-old running back is riding a hot streak into Huntington Bank Field, though, after scoring nine rushing TDs in his final six road games last year.
As cool as it would be to tie Tomlinson in league annals while keeping his TD streak going, history comes secondary to the Packers notching their first road W of the season.
"He's one guy that I looked up to growing up playing this running back position, so it's definitely a great honor," Jacobs said of Tomlinson. "But, man, I don't really too much dig into it or look into it. I'm more concerned with wins and losses."
