Fatal Flaw? A Look at the Green Bay Packers Run Defense

May. 1, 2026 – 01:14 – The Green Bay Packers run defense is a problem. Or is it? Mike Pettine flat out doesn’t care if teams are able to run the ball on them and the scheme reflects that. That doesn’t excuse putting players in bad positions and poor run fits, but there is some credence to that philosophy. The Packers are an above average run defense but seem to get gashed at the worst times even when they’re trying to stop it. It starts with poor play on the defensive line and linebackers that aren’t doing their assignments. Kenny Clark is less consistent than he was in 2019, Za’Darius Smith can tend to freelance, and using smaller linebackers to protect against the pass makes it tough for them to shed blocks. It’s equal parts scheme and execution from the front 7 that’s causing the issue but it could be a fatal flaw by the time the playoffs roll around.