2 weeks and 2 big wins - This Packers team is the real deal!
The Green Bay Packers set the tone early in their week 2 matchup against the Washington Commanders with an aggressive game plan on both sides of the ball. While the offense was on point and flowing well with a mix of running and passing plays, it was the defense yet again that came through with a masterclass.
For much of the game, the Packers’ defense held Jayden Daniels and company to limited offensive production. In fact, Daniels finished the game with 200 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, but most of that came in the second half.
Overall, Green Bay’s defense limited the Commanders to just 231 total yards, 5 of 16 on third downs, and 1 of 3 on fourth down conversions. They also sacked Daniels on 4 occasions and applied constant pressure, taking time away from the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.
As for the Packers’ offense, Jordan Love had a nice game with 292 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, while Josh Jacobs ran for 84 yards, and tight end Tucker Kraft caught 6 passes for 124 yards.
Yesterday’s game for Green Bay was not just any other win. In defeating the Commanders, Green Bay achieved a historical feat by winning two games in a span of just five days against two teams that reached the playoffs last season, the Lions and the Commanders.
The hype surrounding this Packers team seems to be real, especially with the type of performances they have put in despite last night’s game coming on a short week. What the Packers have managed to do against Detroit and Washington is to score 27 points in each game while limiting both teams to under 20 points.
The win against Detroit is even more impressive considering the Lions are consecutive 2-time NFC North champions, and Green Bay demolished them like it was nothing. This year, the Packers’ defense has also looked exceptionally strong, and the addition of Micah Parsons has certainly played its part.
With the small sample size of two games now, those within the NFL community are raving about the Packers’ defense this year. Is it all hype, though? We think not, and one of the strongest arguments in their favor is the fact that Green Bay has managed to hold both the Lions and the Commanders to under 250 total yards (246 total yards for the Lions, and 230 for the Commanders).
In fact, this is actually the first time since 1995 that Green Bay has managed to start the first two games of a season by holding teams under 250 total yards. And the fact that they have done it against two of the top teams in the league is an exceptional feat in its own right.
Moreover, it is the entire defensive unit that is to be credited. Sure, the trade for Parsons has played a big role, as it has helped others such as Rashan Gary, Devonte Wyatt, Edgerrin Cooper, and Lukas Van Ness to exploit the attention commanded by Parsons. But even then, the entire defensive unit has been playing up to a level that speaks volumes of their greatness.
The Packers are off to a terrific start to the season, and part of that reason could also be due to playing both of their games at home. That is now about to change. Coming up next for Green Bay is a stretch of 3 away games in the next 5 weeks, with one week being a bye week.
The NFC North franchise is set to go on the road for the first time this season in week 3 for a Sunday early afternoon game against the Cleveland Browns, and will follow that up with another road game in week 4 against rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.
Week 5 is their bye week, which comes a bit earlier than they would have liked, but in any case, they then return home for a clash against the Cincinnati Bengals, only to go back on the road again in weeks 7 and 8 against the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively.
If the Packers’ upcoming road schedule may be a tad tiring, they have another problem to worry about. Wide receiver Jayen Reed suffered an injury in the game last night and left the game in the first half, only to never return.
Reed has suffered a broken collarbone injury that will see him miss a large amount of time. This could significantly impact the Packers’ offense, as he was one of the standouts in their game against the Lions in week 1.
Green Bay is not heavily dependent on any one receiver, unlike most of the other teams in the league, and that is a positive to take from Reed’s injury. However, one can never have too many key players on the roster, especially in a contact-based league such as the NFL.
In conclusion, the Packers have shown over the past two weeks that they belong in the conversation of Super Bowl contenders and that this year could be the real deal. Jordan Love, in his third year starting under center, is growing in confidence each passing year, and the defense has never looked sharper and more ready to make a difference. With this start to the new season, the Packers look inevitable.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
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