GREEN BAY – Ringed by television cameras and digital recorders in front of his locker on Aug. 22, Eddie Lacy was asked several times about being ready to go for the 2014 regular season.

The second-year Pro Bowler was all smiles, and answered in the affirmative.

It’s no wonder he was asked, though. Lacy had just played one series in the third preseason game against Oakland earlier, carrying the ball six times for 37 yards.

The week before, he was given the ball five times and ran for 25 yards against St. Louis. Other than that, he served as a spectator for much of the four preseason games.

He was also asked if he noticed any changes to defensive fronts in regards to his new status as an elite running back. No, he said, that wouldn’t be evident until the games started for real.

Fast forward to Lacy’s locker on Sunday evening, following the Packers’ 31-24 comeback victory over the New York Jets.

He carried the ball 13 times for 43 yards (3.3 yards per carry), including just three times in the first half. Conversely, Aaron Rodgers threw 30 times in the first half, 42 times total.

This was by design.

Not by the Packers, however, but by the Jets.

"They played base, which was a little weird to our sub package, our three-wide package, they stayed in their base personnel which threw us off a little bit," Green Bay wide receiver Randall Cobb said. "That took away some of the runs and we were able to figure that out and adjust to it and get the ball in the air and be able to make some plays."

So, after two "real" games, has Lacy seen changes geared to stop him?

"We can sense it a bit," Lacy said. "It's definitely a lot tougher to run the ball. But, I'm just staying focused, continuing to make the most out of every opportunity I get. I understand it's going to be a lot harder this year than it was last year, but as long as I just continue to play my role on the team hopefully we just keep getting wins."

While two games do not make a season, but it offers some insight into how much respect the Packers run game earned last year. Two games has also allowed the recent past has been put into context.

Lacy’s success in limited preseason work against the first team units of the Rams and Raiders seem less impressive now, considering that Oakland is dead last in the league (32nd) in run defense through two weeks and St. Louis is 30th.

Conversely, the Jets ended the second week as the league’s top rush defense, with the Seahawks sixth.

"(The Jets) had a distinct plan for our run game, just the way they played their alignments and their base personnel to our sub personnel," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said after the game. "There was obviously a commitment to try and take Eddie Lacy out of the game. I think that was clearly evident for four quarters. I thought the passing game, the protection, Aaron and the receivers, obviously Jordy had a huge game. This game was tilted to the passing game and we got the point production that we needed."

The Seahawks and Jets told the Packers that stopping Lacy was the priority, and they would let Aaron Rodgers beat them. Go figure.

Through two games, Lacy has just 77 yards on 25 carries (though he did miss significant time against the Seahawks due to injury). He’s averaging 3.1 yards per carry, a full yard lower than last year.

Rodgers noted that the front seven of the Seahawks and Jets are the strengths of those defensive units, and he doesn't expect to see such similar looks going forward, but now that those two teams have had success doing so, it's not a stretch to say other opponents may at least try it.

So, adjustments will need to be made if teams continue to prepare for Lacy dare Rodgers to beat them.

"Honestly, we're just going to keep making them adjust to us," Lacy said. "If it's hard for us to run the ball, then it means it should be a little bit easier to pass the ball. It's just hard for them to be able to stop both of 'em. We had a great day in the air last game and we're just going to have to see how defenses come out and play us."

This week will say quite a bit as well, as the Lions – playing at home at raucous Ford Field – are second in the league in rush defense. Relief only comes in two weeks, against the porous Chicago run unit and a mediocre defense in Minnesota after that.

"Our running game wasn’t as successful as we’d like it to be, but once we get our running game continuing to be what it’s been here as of lately, that’s going to open things up even more," Cobb said. "So, it’s just important for us to continue to execute the plays as called and it will all work out together."