The Green Bay Packers are quickly proving they belong among the NFL’s elite.
On Thursday night at Lambeau Field, Jordan Love and his young squad dismantled the veteran Washington Commanders 27–18, showcasing a balanced attack and a relentless defense that has the league on notice.
Tight end Tucker Kraft highlighted the night with a career-best performance, racking up 124 yards and a touchdown, including a 57-yard seam route that set up Green Bay’s opening score. Love was in total command, throwing for 292 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 9.4 yards per attempt, even with multiple starters missing on offense.
The Packers’ defense, however, stole the spotlight. Newly acquired Micah Parsons was everywhere, recording nine pressures, three quarterback hits, and drawing three penalties. His presence, combined with Rashan Gary’s 2.5 sacks on the season, gave Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels no room to operate. Daniels, known for his running ability, was held to just 17 rushing yards—his lowest mark as a pro—while the Commanders managed only 3.2 yards per play.
Head coach Matt LaFleur praised the defensive effort, calling it “relentless, physical, aggressive, attacking,” crediting both the energy and coordination that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has instilled.
Even more encouraging for Green Bay is that they dominated without several key contributors. Right tackle Zach Tom, guard Aaron Banks, and wideouts Jayden Reed (broken collarbone) and Christian Watson (ACL rehab) were sidelined. Yet the offense kept rolling, spreading the ball across multiple playmakers.
Through two weeks, the Packers have beaten two playoff-caliber teams—the Lions and Commanders—by a combined margin of 54–16 (excluding garbage time). With Love turning 27 this season, Green Bay fans are already drawing parallels to Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers, each of whom delivered championships at the same age.
The road ahead includes tough matchups against the Vikings, Eagles, Ravens, Bengals, and Lions again. But with Parsons wreaking havoc up front and Love leading a deep offense, the Packers look ready to challenge any team in the NFL.
This might not just be a fast start—it could be the beginning of something special in Titletown.
