Packers proceed spectacular begin with win vs. Commanders

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Bear in mind when the Inexperienced Bay Packers could not beat any playoff-caliber groups?

They took care of that twice in a matter of 5 days to begin the season. They defeated the Washington Commanders 27-18 on Thursday night time at Lambeau Area after opening the season with a win over the Detroit Lions there Sunday.

Final 12 months, the Lions gained 15 video games and the Commanders prevailed in 12 on their strategy to the NFC Championship Recreation. The Packers grew to become simply the fifth group within the Tremendous Bowl period (since 1966) to win their first two video games in opposition to groups that gained 12 or extra contests the earlier season.

This after going a mixed 0-6 final season in opposition to the Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.

It additionally provides the Packers a 2-0 begin for the primary time since 2020, once they began 4-0 on their strategy to a 13-win marketing campaign.

The Commanders fell to 1-1 and returned house to play the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.

Listed here are an important issues to know from Thursday night time for each groups:

Inexperienced Bay Packers (2-0)

What to make of the QB efficiency: Simply consider the yardage the Packers will pile up when Jordan Love connects on the deep balls. He missed Matthew Golden deep twice within the first half, but he nonetheless had 214 yards passing via two quarters — his most within the first half in his profession and essentially the most by any Packers quarterback since Aaron Rodgers in Week 4 of 2020 in opposition to the Falcons with 228 yards. Love completed with 292 yards.

The Parsons issue: Defensive finish Micah Parsons confronted a number of double groups — and even a triple group on one play — but nonetheless managed a half-sack and three QB hits. He additionally drew an illegal-hands-to-the-face penalty and sure compelled a false begin in opposition to the Commanders. He was held on the sack he shared with Edgerrin Cooper, however that penalty was declined. General, the Packers recorded 12 hits on Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Most stunning efficiency: The stunning half about Tucker Kraft’s six-catch, 124-yard, one landing recreation was that it was his first profession 100-yard receiving efficiency. Pretty much as good as Kraft was final 12 months in his 50-catch, seven-touchdown season, he didn’t hit the 100-yard mark in a contest. Kraft was a budding star going into this season, and he may be on his strategy to full-on stardom.

Pattern to observe: Groups ought to know by now what is going on to occur when the Packers get close to the aim line: Josh Jacobs is getting the ball and scoring. It occurred for the tenth straight regular-season recreation Thursday, when Jacobs scored on a 2-yard run to offer the Packers a 14-0 lead within the second quarter. Jacobs received the ball on the play earlier than, too, and rushed for five yards on first-and-goal from the 7. Jacobs prolonged his franchise document for consecutive video games with a landing and have become simply the fourth participant over the previous 30 seasons with a dashing landing in not less than 10 straight video games, becoming a member of LaDainian Tomlinson (18 straight from 2004-05), Jonathan Taylor (11 straight in 2021) and Priest Holmes (11 straight in 2002).

Subsequent recreation: at Cleveland Browns (1 p.m. ET, Sept. 21)

Washington Commanders (1-1)

The Commanders needed to distance themselves from final season, preferring to look ahead. Thursday’s recreation, sadly for Washington, will present that distance.

The Commanders regarded nothing just like the group that shocked the NFL by reaching the NFC Championship Recreation in January.

Although the ultimate tally was 27-18 and the Commanders have been solely down one rating early within the fourth quarter, make no mistake: Inexperienced Bay dominated this recreation.

The Packers made Daniels look extraordinary and held an offense that ranked seventh in yards final season to 230 total.

They made Washington’s protection look pedestrian, gaining 406 yards and hitting quite a few large performs.

Worse for Washington, it additionally misplaced a number of key gamers in the course of the recreation — defensive finish Deatrich Smart Jr., (quad), receiver Noah Brown (groin), tight finish John Bates (groin) and operating again Austin Ekeler (Achilles) all left the sport.

It was the Commanders’ first of 5 Prime Time video games this season. But it surely was a forgettable efficiency — one they will need to distance themselves from as quickly as potential.

Pattern to observe: Matt Homosexual was as soon as one of many NFL’s higher kickers from 50 yards and past; in his first 5 years he made 25-of-36 from that distance. Nonetheless, he has now made simply 1-of-3 this season and is 4-of-12 for the reason that begin of final season. Washington had hoped he solved its kicking points after utilizing 4 place-kickers final season, however his lack of ability to attach from lengthy distance makes that questionable.

Largest gap within the recreation plan: Take your decide. However Washington’s protection regarded sluggish in opposition to Inexperienced Bay’s offense. Too usually Packers targets have been operating open, which is why they’d eight performs of 15 yards or longer — one for 57 and one other for 37. The Packers harm them by sending receivers in movement, who then beat the corners to the surface when Washington performed man protection, in addition to with play-action passes down the sector.

What to make of the QB efficiency: No group has made Daniels look as pedestrian because the Packers did Thursday night time. Credit score the Inexperienced Bay move rush and its velocity to chase him down when he scrambled. The Packers sacked Daniels 4 occasions and held him to 17 yards dashing. He threw for 200 yards, however most of that got here when the Commanders have been down 17. His offensive line offered little assist, notably rookie proper sort out Josh Conerly Jr., who has struggled within the first two video games in move safety.

Subsequent recreation: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, Sept. 21)