Dillon the battering ram the Packers needed in victory over Rams – packersnews.com

GREEN BAY He runs like an armored tank, plowing over anything in his way, so it is easy to forget A.J. Dillon is in fact mortal. There is flesh underneath those shoulder pads, though his quadriceps are built like tree trunks, impressive enough that each has its own nickname.

Watch him truck into a pile of full-grown men, as he did more than once during the Green Bay Packers 36-28 win Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, and its a marvel how that pile is almost always pushed backward. He is one man swarmed by three, four, sometimes five defenders, but built strong enough to fall forward anyway. It has reached the point that if the Packers offense is in a short-yardage situation, and No. 28 is lined up in the backfield, everybody in the stadium knows whos getting the ball.

And it does not matter.Dillon gets the first down almost without fail.

Dillons box score did not blow anyone away Sunday afternoon. He finished with only 69 yards on his 20 carries, a pedestrian 3.5-yard average. But those 20 carries, along with five catches for 21 yards, were a lunch-pail effort. Dillon was the foundation of the Packers offense Sunday, a battering ram that continually extended scoring drives and kept the Rams defense honest.

Take the third quarters opening drive. With a 20-17 halftime lead, the Packers got first possession in the second half and marched 75 yards in 13 plays. Dillon touched the football on eight snaps, including a 5-yard touchdown to open a 27-17 lead.

The Packers lead didnt cut to single digits until the Rams kicked a meaningless field goal with 18 seconds left.

Dillons touchdown catch, his second this season, was perhaps the best example of his implausible strength. Aaron Rodgers pass was thrown a touch behind Dillon, on his hip. When Dillon caught it at the 5-yard line, he had Rams linebacker Troy Reeder firmly between him and the end zone.

Most running backs might have lost that battle short of the goal line. Not Dillon. The 250-pound bruiser ran through Reeders arm tackle like he wasnt even there, shaking the 6-3, 245-pound linebacker like a doll on his way to the end zone.

Dillons ascension this season has long ago justified general manager Brian Gutekunsts decision to draft him in the second round last year. Now the question is just how much the decision to take a running back when that position looked anything but a need will pay off for the Packers.

Aaron Jones returned from an MCL sprain Sunday, and though he started, it was Dillons game. Jones had three carries in the Packers' first four snaps. Then he carried the football only six times the rest of the way, finishing with 23 yards.

There is no question Jones is a star. Hes one of the NFLs best home run threats, capable of breaking off a highlight touchdown from anywhere on the field. Dillon is built like the prototypical workhorse back, the kind who can handle north of 20 carries each week.

Asked if he even felt all those hits 25 touches Sunday brought, if he was even sore, Dillon did not hesitate.

Not really, he said.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Dillon and Jones have become 1A, 1B in the Packers backfield. On Sunday, Dillon was the Packers primary tailback in part to limit Jones workload in his return from the MCL injury. The time might come where, depending on the match-up, Dillon could warrant being the featured tailback even with Jones healthy.

Dillon showed Sunday against one of the NFLs best defensive fronts just how important a constant threat of the power run game can be to the Packers offense as the weather gets cold, the playoffs get closer.

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Dillon the battering ram the Packers needed in victory over Rams - packersnews.com