GREEN BAY – The Packers' defense wasn't done yet.
After a virtuoso performance against Detroit on Sunday, Green Bay's defense ran it back in a big way during a dominant 27-18 win over Washington and reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
The combination of a ferocious pass rush and the secondary locking down Daniels' perimeter targets neutralized the Commanders during the most meaningful parts of the Week 2 matchup between the NFC frontrunners.
Daniels completed 24 of 42 passes for just 200 yards while being sacked four times among 12 quarterback hits. He fared no better on the ground, gaining just 17 yards on seven scrambles.
"The plan was really just to rush together, all four," said defensive lineman Rashan Gary, who had three tackles and a sack. "He's a mobile quarterback, understanding that if we do get too high on the rush, he likes escaping through the B-gap. So, as a defense, just being on the same page, make sure we keep him in the pocket, watch out for rush lanes, things like that."
With Micah Parsons seeing a few more snaps than he did in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Lions, Green Bay dialed up the pressure even more against a Commanders offense that produced just 82 yards and four first downs in the first half.
After recording 4½ sacks in two games vs. Washington last year, Parsons was again a thorn in Daniels' side. All three of his QB hits came on third down while another forced guard Nick Allegretti into an illegal hands to the face penalty in the first quarter.
While there was a butterfly effect to Parsons' presence on the field, he and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper combined for a game-changing sack of Daniels in the third quarter for a 10-yard loss.
Washington then attempted a 52-yard Matt Gay field goal that hit the right upright to preserve a 14-3 Packers lead.
"It's only gonna get better," said safety Xavier McKinney of Parsons' impact. "I don't even know how many snaps he got today but it wasn't even every snap like he's gonna get to eventually, so as he keeps building, we're just gonna get better the more and more he's on the field."
McKinney smiles, saying it was a somewhat boring evening for the secondary but in the best way possible. When the DBs were counted on to make a play, they came through.
A returning Nate Hobbs alternated with Carrington Valentine at one perimeter spot while nickel cornerback Javon Bullard was stout against both the run and pass en route to five tackles.
Of course, cornerback Keisean Nixon had a career-high five passes defensed with two tackles while blanketing Commanders receivers Noah Brown and Jaylin Lane, who finished with two catches for 11 yards.
"The ball was just coming my way," said Nixon, whose five PBUs were the most by a Packers defender since Jaire Alexander's five vs. the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.
"I usually don't get that many targets in a game, but I was in my zone. I knew what I can do and what I'm capable of but ya'll just understanding it now."
Washington gained a few yards through the air after the Packers grabbed a 27-10 lead late in the fourth quarter but finished with just two explosive gains, both registered in the final 15 minutes.
The Packers also silenced a Washington run game fresh off a 230-yard outing in a win over the New York Giants Sunday, mustering 51 yards on 19 attempts (2.7 yards per carry).
The Packers have given up 97 rushing yards in the first two contests, the second fewest by Green Bay through two games since the 1970 merger behind only the 78 rushing yards allowed in the first two games in 2016.
Not bad on a short turnaround.
"We came out and did it again," said Parsons, whom NFL Next Gen Stats credited with eight pressures. "We played consistent. We gave up some things that we didn't want to, more points than what we wanted to, but we made 'em earn everything, and that's just important. No big plays, we made 'em earn everything, and that's the good part."
Challenge met: Malik Heath made a sideline catch so good the officials didn't even know what to make of it.
Starting from the Packers' 8-yard line, quarterback Jordan Love aired out a deep ball for Heath deep down the left sideline and let his third-year wideout make a play.
Heath not only contorted his body to make the 37-yard grab but also managed to get both feet down. The side judge initially ruled him out of bounds, but Head Coach Matt LaFleur successfully won the challenge.
"I knew I was getting too wide to the sideline, so I feel like I had to drag 'em in," Heath said. "I felt like I got it in. I looked at this ref down here, and he didn't know, so this ref back here he's looking like, 'No, you out.' I'm like, 'Man, aren't you going to look at the monitor before you call it out?' I'm glad it counted."
More history: Josh Jacobs felt he left a few runs on the field against Washington but still got the one he needed to extend his franchise record to 10 straight games with at least one TD.
It came shortly after Heath's circus catch, with the Pro Bowl running back plowing the ball into the end zone from two yards to give Green Bay a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
"Man, I feel like I should've had another one," Jacobs said. "I got a couple runs that I didn't like, so probably won't sleep tonight, but it is what it is."
Stepping up: The Packers dug deep into their receiver depth after Jayden Reed exited in the first quarter with what turned out to be a broken collarbone, per Head Coach Matt LaFleur.
Everyone added a little to the mix whether it was Dontayvion Wicks moving the sticks with four catches for 44 yards or Romeo Doubs coming up with another touchdown.
The Packers also unveiled a trick play where rookie third-round pick Savion Williams motioned behind center and took a direct snap for 16 yards on second-and-6 to the Washington 19.
"It's good to get young guys going," tight end Tucker Kraft said. "He's a Day 2 draft pick feeling the pressure, after injuries in camp, feeling that pressure to come on the field and make an impact instantly. But he's waited it out and he's able to show that he can make those plays so we're going to keep dialing things up for him."
