After sending plays in to Aaron Rodgers for season after season, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy tried an experiment this year. He gave the play calling responsibilities to the able Tom Clements, associate head coach. Then in week 14, McCarthy took the play calling back. It’s not that the Packers weren’t performing well, it’s just that McCarthy thought they could — and must — do better. The Packers are 10-4 on a three game win streak heading into Sunday’s contest against the 12-2 Arizona Cardinals.
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McCarthy obviously thought the running game was underachieving. He’s emphasized it since taking over, with the Packers gaining 230 yards on the ground against Dallas in the first game McCarthy reclaimed the offense. In week 2 of McCarthy redux, the Packers made the most of a less effective offense against the Raiders, scoring 30 points but on less than 300 yards total offense (getting help from two Oakland interceptions). Against Oakland, the Packers gained just 103 yards rushing — more in line with their season average — with 28 attempts. McCarthy has all the faith in the world in Rodgers’ ability to get things done. He will put his running game to a very big test against Arizona on Sunday. Green Bay lags at 22nd among NFL teams in rushing yards. The Packers are 10th in passing.
