After giving up 194 rushing yards and 213 total yards to Bijan Robinson in Week 3, the Green Bay Packers will face another elite running back on Sunday in Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions.
Did the Packers learn any lessons from the failure to contain Robinson before facing Gibbs on Sunday?
Coach Matt LaFleur had a humorous answer on Thursday: "Sure. Lessons on what not to do."
A three-time Pro Bowler, Gibbs has 504 rushing yards, 747 total yards and nine total touchdowns through five games. He became just the fifth player in NFL history and first since 2002 (Priest Holmes) to have at least 700 total yards and nine touchdowns through the first five games of a regular season, per Next Gen Stats. He's also forced 45 missed tackles and produced 18
explosive runs while averaging 100 rushing yards and almost 50 receiving yards per game in 2026.
The Packers defense will be in the spotlight after missing five tackles and giving up four runs of at least 10 yards to Robinson a month ago. The Falcons running back produced 163 yards after first contact, per PFF, and created 11 first downs or touchdowns via the run. Was the performance a blip on the radar, the result of losing leverage on a slippery field against the NFL's most elusive back? Or will Gibbs stress the Packers to the breaking point once again?
The Packers must ensure he doesn't take over the game at Ford Field.
More from LaFleur: "You have to do a great job of maintaining your leverage. Everyone has certain leverage points on the play. You cannot relax for one second with this guy. He's capable of reversing field and scoring touchdowns. He has elite change of direction skills. He can stick his foot in the ground, bounce one way. But he also has elite home run speed. And he's a factor out of the backfield. Shoot, he could go line up as a slot receiver for most teams. I just think he's a really dynamic player in this league."
In other words, the Packers need to have a plan for Gibbs on every play, run or pass, and then rally everyone to the ball whenever No. 0 gets a touch. Like Robinson, Gibbs puts tremendous stress on a defense because just one mistake can turn into a game-changing play. In Week 4, Robinson turned the game on its head when he ripped off a 55-yard run in the first half.
In two games against the Lions last season, the Jeff Hafley-led Packers defense allowed only 87 rushing yards on 29 carries and 49 receiving yards on 13 catches to Gibbs. Green Bay swept the two games.
Gibbs faced Jonathan Gannon's Cardinals defense in 2024, rushing 16 times for 83 yards in a 20-13 win for the Lions.
The Packers defense has a lot on their plate entering Sunday, but the top priority is clear: Contain Gibbs and make sure another elite running back doesn't will his team to a win.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Can Packers learn from Bijan Robinson failure? 'Lessons on what not to do'
