LANDOVER, Md. – A sharp first possession by the Packers' offense and QB Aaron Rodgers gave Green Bay a 7-3 lead after one quarter of Saturday night's preseason game against Washington at FedExField.
The Packers' defense stood tall early. After forcing a three-and-out on the game's first possession, the unit had to go right back on the field after Packers WR Trevor Davis muffed a 56-yard punt.
Taking over at the Green Bay 16-yard line, Washington couldn't do anything, though. CB Josh Hawkins broke up a second-down pass to the end zone for TE Vernon Davis, and the Redskins had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by K Dustin Hopkins.
With Rodgers starting, the Packers' offense got on the board. The chains first moved when the Packers successfully challenged that the Redskins had 12 men on the field. From there, Rodgers hit WR Jordy Nelson twice for 18 yards and WR Randall Cobb twice for 9. RB Jamaal Williams rushed five times for 15 yards. Rodgers scrambled 13 yards to convert a third-and-6 and put the ball in the red zone, and he finished the drive by connecting with TE Martellus Bennett on a 3-yard touchdown.
The 15-play drive covered 75 yards and consumed 7 minutes, 41 seconds, giving the Packers a 7-3 lead.
Green Bay's defense got another three-and-out, in essence its third straight to open the game. With the starters still in, rookie CB Kevin King made the tackle after a short pass reception, and S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix nearly picked off Washington QB Kirk Cousins' third-down pass. The ensuing punt was fielded by Davis for a 1-yard return.
QB Brett Hundley took over for the Packers as the starters exited, and his first series did not go well. He was sacked on first down, and the offense was also flagged for delay of game on the drive, leading to a punt from deep in Green Bay territory. Rookie P Justin Vogel's 41-yard boot was returned 5 yards by former Packers DB Will Blackmon, giving the Redskins the ball near midfield.
