![]() Dillon found a rhythm on Sunday’s final drive, running straight ahead, pushing the pile as he does.Īt his locker after, Dillon recalled seeing Jones cheer for him on the sideline at one point late in overtime. ![]() Even after Jones got his payday last year, their ability to coexist in the same offense hasn’t wavered. That’s never happened since Dillon was drafted in the second round in 2020, a potential replacement for Jones as the Pro Bowler entered free agency. There is only one football, and with two tailbacks worthy of carrying a workhorse load, competition for touches could breed division. Nothing has been more important for that Packers offense this season than the selflessness shared between Jones and Dillon. Those are character-building runs as well.” Bond between AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones goes beyond sharing positionĭillon’s mantra Sunday wasn’t only meant for when he was on the field. “So getting those extra yards, he’s turning 2 and 3 yards into 4 and 6 and popping a few. I don’t know how many plays we ended up getting, but that’s a big man you’re going to have to stop every single time. We’re all kind of tired going through it. And if you’re going to add in 70 minutes, the last 10. “He’s not a guy you want to see for 60 minutes,” left tackle David Bakhtiari said, “especially the latter half of 60 minutes. He carried the football each of the Packers’ final four plays, gaining 4, 3, 7 and 1 yards. With the Patriots defense gassed, they were helpless to dig in their heels against Dillon. Jones has a 20-yard carry in three of the Packers’ first four games. Only one of Dillon’s rushes reached 10 yards. Dillon finished with 73 yards on 17 carries Sunday, a healthy 4.3-yard average. I just felt AJ was able to move the pile a little bit.”ĭillon’s production is easy to overlook as Jones pieces together his highlight reel in this early season. We ran a lot more outside zone, but either one of those guys, I have a lot of trust in them. I think earlier in the game, we were sticking with Aaron Jones. “We started running more downhill runs,” LaFleur said. It was exactly what the Packers offense needed, avoiding negative plays as they methodically moved the chains until lining up Mason Crosby’s game-winning field goal from 31 yards. They gained just 24 yards, modest production. Instead, Dillon rumbled for six carries on the final drive. He wanted to pound the football downhill.įrom the 10-yard line, Jones opened what became the game-winning drive with a 3-yard carry on the first play. After Jones wore down the Patriots, forcing them to chase him all over the field, coach Matt LaFleur had enough with stretching the defense sideways. It took more than four quarters Sunday for the moment to find Dillon. ![]() Repetition.” Matt LaFleur went with powerful AJ Dillon to close out game “Each play at a time, I kept saying that in my head. “It’s all about just staying in the moment,” Dillon said. Whenever Dillon’s feet are on the field, he needs to win. His sharpness is key to the Packers having perhaps the NFL’s best running back tandem, the foundation of an offense sputtering in the passing game. Dillon couldn’t become complacent as he slipped into the backdrop. It’s Jones who now has a pair of 100-yard games at the season’s quarter pole, including 110 on 16 carries Sunday. Through the season’s first three games, Dillon watched close friend and fellow tailback Aaron Jones assert himself as one of the NFL’s dominant playmakers. “If you see the pictures,” Dillon said, “it’ll be there.” He might have had an idea how important that mindset would become in the Packers’ 27-24 win against the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field. On Sunday morning, he was watching the Minnesota Vikings beat the New Orleans Saints in London, where the Packers will travel this week.Īn analyst said five words that stuck with him: win where your feet are.ĭillon grabbed a Sharpie and wrote the expression on his left wrist. Dillon often hears a phrase during the week, sometimes game day morning, and jots it on his arm. It can be any little reminder he needs to carry into his next game. On the left, the Green Bay Packers running back scribbles inspiration. Gabrielle Toonen is the first thing AJ Dillon sees when he needs to dig deep. GREEN BAY – The right-wrist inscription is reserved for his wife’s name. Watch Video: Fans react to Packers' victory over Patriots at Lambeau Field in Week 4
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