GREEN BAY – The Packers improved to 2-0 with a 27-18 victory over the Commanders on Thursday Night Football at Lambeau Field.
Here are five takeaways from the triumph:
- The defense dominated again.
For the second straight game, the Packers held one of last year's top offenses out of the end zone through three quarters. The difference in this one compared to last Sunday against Detroit was Washington had much better field position but still struggled to score.
In putting up just three points until the fourth quarter, the Commanders had drives that started on their own 45- and 43-yard lines, plus a drive that started at Green Bay's 44, and came up empty on all three. Two of those ended with long missed field goals by kicker Matt Gay.
The Packers were credited with four sacks and a whopping 12 hits on QB Jayden Daniels, who didn't turn the ball over but managed just an 85.4 passer rating (24-of-42, 200 yards, two TDs).
"Relentless," was how Head Coach Matt LaFleur described the defensive effort. "Just physical, aggressive, attacking. The play style is exactly what we want from these guys, and it always starts with the energy and effort. That's going to get you through and can overcome some of the mistakes."
There weren't many of those, and the mobile Daniels managed just 17 rushing yards on seven runs as the Commanders compiled only 51 rushing yards total. Green Bay has allowed only 97 rushing yards through two games.
"That's a helluva day defensively," LaFleur said of Daniels' seven for 17 on the ground. "If you told me that's what it was going to be after the game, I'd say advantage us.
"Our players are doing a great job feeding off one another, and it's definitely exciting to watch our defense go out there and perform, because they allow us to get up on somebody."
- The offense went the long way to score early.
For the first time in LaFleur's tenure, the Packers twice went 90-plus yards for a touchdown, both in the first half to take a 14-0 lead.
A 57-yard catch and run by Tucker Kraft set up the first score to Romeo Doubs, and a 37-yard toe-tap sideline grab by Malik Heath helped get Josh Jacobs in position to post a rushing TD for a franchise-record 10th straight game.
In taking several deep shots, the Packers clearly were looking for the explosive play, and they cashed in on enough to stay in control of the ballgame.
"I'm going to be an aggressive quarterback," Jordan Love said. "I love taking shots downfield. I've got a lot of confidence in my guys that they're going to make plays when we get some of those opportunities."
The offense also managed well without two injured starters up front, as right tackle Zach Tom (oblique) and left guard Aaron Banks (ankle, groin) both missed the game. Rookie Anthony Belton and veteran newcomer Darian Kinnard rotated at Tom's spot, with Belton getting the majority of the work, while second-year pro Jordan Morgan filled in for Banks.
Washington dialed up several pressures in the second half and threw Green Bay off balance at times, which LaFleur regretted. But Love threw the ball away when he had to and didn't put it in harm's way as he compiled his second straight triple-digit passer rating (113.9, 19-of-31, 292 yards, two TDs).
- When the Packers needed to respond, they did.
The Commanders' first touchdown came early in the fourth quarter, on a 20-yard TD pass to Zach Ertz, pulling Washington within 17-10. Green Bay answered by going 65 yards in nine plays, capped by Kraft's TD catch, to resume control.
The drive featured some creativity in the running game, as on a direct snap to Savion Williams, the rookie receiver ran outside, turned the corner and would've gained more than the 16 yards credited had he not slipped and fallen. On the next play, an end around the other direction to the other rookie receiver, Matthew Golden, gained nine yards.
Two plays later, the Packers were in the end zone and up 14 points again.
"It was one of those drives that we needed," Love said. "They go down and score and we've got to go answer. That's what you want to see from an offense."
After a four-and-out from the defense in Washington territory, the Packers used the good field position to tack on a 56-yard Brandon McManus field goal for a three-score lead at 27-10 with 6:42 left, effectively sealing the victory.
- Kraft had a monster game on one side of the ball, Keisean Nixon on the other.
The third-year tight end recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game with six catches for 124 yards and a score. His previous career high was 88 yards.
As usual, most of Kraft's yardage came after the catch as he made tacklers miss and kept charging downfield.
"That's what Tuck is every day," Love said. "I don't think it's a secret for him to go out there and ball like he does. Tuck's a guy that's going to have a big year."
Meanwhile Nixon was credited with breaking up five passes, using a combination of tight coverage and superb timing to repeatedly deflect the ball. He more than doubled his previous career high of two passes defensed.
"Keisean Nixon was playing his butt off out there," LaFleur said.
- The injury news on Jayden Reed isn't good.
LaFleur confirmed after the game the third-year receiver broke his collarbone on a nullified touchdown catch during the first drive.
"He'll be down for quite some time," LaFleur said. "We'll see how fast he can recover and heal, and certainly I would expect him back at some point this season, but obviously it's a big blow to us. He's a guy who's a catalyst for our offense and our football team.
"Fortunately for us I feel like we have a pretty deep wide receiver room, and there's going to be opportunities there for other guys to step up and take advantage."
