The Packers Can Use Their Jalen Hurts Blueprint Against Caleb Williams

Last year, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts had two of his worst performances of the season against the Green Bay Packers. He completed just 60.3% of his passes in his games against Green Bay — well below his 69.2% season average — and posted a 4.9% turnover-worthy play rate, far above his 3.2% season mark.

Still, the Packers did an even better job containing Hurts on the ground. He only managed 33 yards on 13 attempts in Brazil, averaging 2.5 yards per carry — his third-lowest output of the season. In the Wild Card matchup in Philly, he added only 36 yards on six attempts.

Green Bay showed a similar plan against other mobile quarterbacks on the schedule, and it worked. They held Anthony Richardson to just 37 rushing yards, and Kyler Murray averaged only two yards per attempt on seven carries.

Containing mobile quarterbacks has quietly become one of Green Bay’s most reliable traits under Jeff Hafley. To keep Caleb Williams in check, the Packers must return to the blueprint they used last year.

Green Bay’s inability to contain Caleb Williams in last year’s Week 11 matchup was one of the biggest reasons they nearly lost — if not for Karl Brooks blocking a last-second game-winning field goal. Williams rushed for 70 yards that day and averaged 7.8 yards per attempt, constantly breaking contain and extending drives.

"We've got to be better, and just after watching the tape with the guys, I would say we're all in agreement with that," Matt LaFleur said on Monday after the game. "There were opportunities to get off the grass, and for one reason or another, we didn't make the plays.”

Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurts, and Bryce Young are among the mobile quarterbacks Green Bay has faced this year, and the Packers have done a good job keeping all of them quiet on the ground. Daniels averaged just 2.4 yards per attempt, Young finished with only nine rushing yards, and Hurts managed 27.

Green Bay went 1-2 in those games, but Hafley’s group held the Eagles to 10 points and the Carolina Panthers to 16, so the approach works even when the results don’t show up in the win column.

The Packers will need to stay disciplined up front and avoid leaving open rushing lanes in their pass rush. It’s a safer approach, but it prevents Williams from taking off and using his legs. If Green Bay can do that, their chances of winning improve significantly. His quarterback play this year hasn’t been strong enough to beat teams from the pocket.

Williams hasn’t been an accurate passer this year. Entering Sunday’s slate, his 58.1% completion rate ranked 52nd among qualified quarterbacks. He’s been even less efficient down the field, completing just 35.2% of his deep attempts and 45.8% on intermediate throws. If Green Bay takes away the easy, quick gains, they can force him to attack deeper windows.

Hafley’s plan has to make Williams play quarterback, not running back. Keep him in the pocket and force him to beat you deep. Limit his legs, protect the rushing lanes, and make him win the hard way. It should be a fun game.

The Bears come in as the No. 1 seed in the conference, while the Packers are 3-0 in the division. On top of that, Jordan Love is 3-0 against Chicago in games he starts and finishes, and he’ll be looking to make it 4-0 on Sunday.

If Green Bay executes the plan, they’ll give themselves every chance to walk out of Lambeau with another statement win. Contain Williams, stay disciplined up front, and let Jordan Love do what he’s done every time he’s faced Chicago.