Can Jeff Hafley's Revamped Run Defense Contain Chicago's Dynamic Ground Attack?

Under Jeff Hafley’s leadership, the Green Bay Packers’ defense arguably made the biggest leap in the ground game. Last season, they finished seventh in EPA per rush, seventh in rushing yards allowed, and third in yards per carry allowed. For comparison, Green Bay ranked 20th and 28th in EPA per rush in 2023 and 2022, respectively, under Joe Barry. They also finished 28th in rushing yards allowed in 2023 and 26th in 2022.

The Packers have a top-10 run defense in 2025. They rank ninth in rushing yards allowed and are allowing just 3.9 yards per carry, tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the fifth-fewest. They’ve also allowed the sixth-fewest runs of 20 yards or more and are one of only seven teams that haven’t given up a 40-yard rush this season.

Green Bay has faced five of the top 15 rushing offenses in EPA per rush this season. The Washington Commanders rank fifth in that metric, and Hafley’s unit held them to just 2.7 yards per carry.

Now the Chicago Bears come to Lambeau Field for a 3:25 p.m. kickoff, bringing a top-10 offense in EPA per play and total EPA. Ben Johnson’s system, Caleb Williams’ five game-winning drives and five fourth-quarter comebacks, and a defense that leads the league in takeaways have all pushed them to the top of the NFC North. But what truly sets this matchup apart is Chicago’s ground attack, which has been one of the league’s most consistent strengths.

It was the first time that two Chicago players rushed for at least 125 yards in the same game — Kyle Monangai finished with 130 yards, and D’Andre Swift added 125. It was also the first time since 1985 that the Bears had two players top 100 rushing yards in a single matchup.

The duo combined for 255 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries. The Bears entered the game averaging 205.8 rushing yards over their previous four contests, and they shattered that mark with 281 yards on the ground against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that had allowed just 92 rushing yards per game over its previous five.

According to Next Gen Stats, Chicago’s ground game hit several season highs. Across 42 designed runs, they produced 91 yards before contact and 177 yards after contact. Their ball carriers also forced nine missed tackles — tied for their most in a game this year — with Swift causing five and Monangai four.

Chicago’s offensive line ranks fourth in run-block win rate, per ESPN, but Ben Johnson has been the real engine behind their rushing success. The Bears’ ground game has become one of the most coordinated and efficient units in the league, and their performance against the Eagles showcased it at full strength. The scheme leans on zone principles with selective gap runs mixed in, and Johnson uses motion to stretch defenses, tilt leverage, and create clean rushing lanes.

The Packers have to learn from their mistakes in the 16–13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Dave Canales built his entire plan around running the ball and shortening the game, and it worked — Green Bay had only seven offensive possessions. Chicago could look to use a similar approach, especially with Devonte Wyatt, the core of Green Bay’s interior front, out for the season.

Johnson will almost certainly try to lean on the run game, wear the defense down, and set up an inconsistent Williams — who ranks 40th in completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks, with only Russell Wilson and J.J. McCarthy lower — for more manageable situations.

Sunday should be another key moment in Jeff Hafley’s growing 2026 head-coaching résumé. We’re going to see NFC North football at its finest — Lambeau Field, the elements, and the oldest rivalry in the NFL. If Green Bay’s defense can deliver a strong showing against one of the league’s best rushing attacks, they’ll set the tone for the second meeting between these two franchises on December 20 at Soldier Field.