Can you win without a running game.. sure can.
Can you win without a passing game.. sure can.. Ravens did it.
People point at the Colts.. what do the Colts do well behind that passing game.. they run the ball effectively when called upon.. Edge, Addai, Brown all have solid statistics in yards per attempt.. But the Colts call enough runs and draws to keep the defense off balance, slowing down the pass rush and limiting blitzing thus helping the offensive line.
The key is they don't forget to balance the game plan and run effectively when dialed up...
I am not saying to become a totally balanced offense.. 50/50 so to speak.. but you have to be able to run effectively out of your passing sets to at least pause the pass rush because they have to read for it.
Currently, look at the play calling.. we have to run out of the I to be effective at all.. no draws, no single back runs with effectiveness.. hell no screens to slow the pass rush down.
Mike McCarthy is partially to blame because he leaves the run so quickly.. but he leaves it quickly because we struggle with it.. like it or not.. he has to keep it involved in the offense to take that pressure off the line, thus calming Rodgers a bit more.. and letting the offense become more dynamic and allowing the deeper routes to develop.. which in turn will pull the backer back more in coverage.. and open up the short passing game up even more.
That is what I am saying.. we have to be able to run the ball effectively.. and we have to have Mike McCarthy stick with it more to truly let this dynamic offense hit its stride and start hammering the scoreboard.. thus putting more pressure on the opposing offenses to keep up.. thus creating even more opportunities because the their offenses have to take some chances against our defense because they will feel the pressure to keep up.
You give away dictating to the defense when you and they know you are going to drop back and pass.. they the defense then can start dictating to you via altering your protection schemes and it snowballs from their on the offensive line.
It isn't magic.. it isn't mind boggling.. you have to able to run effectively to keep the play calling open and making the defense chase you.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"