12 Sep 2025
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Green Bay’s prime-time pop: fast start, firm finish
Lambeau Field felt loud again. On a crisp Thursday night, the Green Bay Packers controlled the moments that mattered and put away the Washington Commanders 27-18, moving to 2-0 and staking an early claim as a team with teeth. The win also lands Green Bay in rare company: they’re just the fifth team of the Super Bowl era to open 2-0 with both victories coming against opponents that won 12 or more games the previous season.
The shape of the game was set early by Jordan Love, who played like a quarterback completely at ease with the plan. He missed a couple of deep shots in the first quarter, then throttled down and started slicing up Washington in the intermediate windows. By halftime, Love had 214 passing yards—his best first half as a pro, and the most by a Packers quarterback in a first half since Aaron Rodgers in Week 4 of 2020. He finished with 292 yards and a clean command of tempo and spacing.
The revelation was tight end Tucker Kraft. He didn’t just post his first 100-yard day; he looked like the best matchup on the field. Six catches, 124 yards, and a touchdown don’t capture how punishing he was after the catch. Green Bay used him on seams, crossers, and quick outlets. He broke tackles, dragged defenders, and turned modest throws into chain-movers. If you were wondering who Love trusts on third-and-need-it, you got your answer.
What helped all of that click? Protection held up when it needed to. Washington tried to squeeze Love with simulated pressures and late movement, but Green Bay stayed on schedule with play-action and well-timed calls from Matt LaFleur. The Packers didn’t lean on explosive runs to win; they leveraged pace, formation variety, and yards after catch. It looked like grown-up offense—no panic, no hero ball, just answers.
On defense, the tone felt different from the jump. The addition of Micah Parsons added speed and edge to a unit that looked organized and mean. Washington managed only three points on its first seven possessions, and that cushion shaped the entire night. Pass rush pressure hurried reads, and coverage rotations forced rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to hold the ball a hair too long. Green Bay tackled cleanly, kept a lid on explosives for three quarters, and made Washington earn every yard.
Daniels didn’t blink, though. He settled in, found rhythm late, and made it a one-score game in the fourth. He moved the pocket, hit a couple of tight-window throws, and kept the Commanders alive with his legs and toughness. But each time Washington nudged the door open, the Packers slammed it shut—whether with a timely rush, a rally tackle short of the sticks, or a clock-chewing drive to flip field position.
How the Packers did it—and what it means next
There was a quiet message in this win: this is not the same team that wilted against heavyweights last season. Green Bay went 0-6 combined against the Lions, Vikings, and Eagles a year ago. Two weeks into this season, they’ve already banked wins over two teams that logged 12-plus victories last year. That’s not a schedule quirk; that’s a response.
Love’s growth shows up in the boring parts. He got in and out of plays without drama. He took checkdowns instead of forcing hero throws. He used motion to diagnose coverage and waited out leverage battles, especially working to Kraft and the backs. The ball came out on time, and when it didn’t, he escaped without giving Washington freebies. It was efficient more than flashy, and that’s exactly what roadblocks opponents.
Kraft’s emergence changes how defenses have to line up. If safeties rotate down to bracket him, outside receivers get one-on-ones. If linebackers try to match him, Green Bay can live in play-action and hammer the seams. That versatility makes the entire offense more stable, especially on third down and in the red area, where tight ends can win without perfect throws.
Defensively, the structure backed up the pass rush. Parsons’ presence forces offenses to slide protection, and that created one-on-ones elsewhere. Washington saw stunts, delayed blitz looks, and tight-zone run fits that constricted their early-down plan. The Commanders crossed midfield a few times but hit traffic in the high red zone—rushed throws, contested catches, and not enough yards after contact. That early logjam turned into the scoreboard gap that Washington couldn’t erase.
Washington will still take positives from this. Daniels handled a hostile environment, took hits, and kept them in striking distance late. First-year head coach Dan Quinn’s defense mixed coverages and didn’t fold after the slow start. But missed tackles on Kraft and a handful of pre-snap issues cost them. On the road, against a quarterback in rhythm, the margin for error is thin.
As for Green Bay, this start matters beyond vibes. The last time the Packers opened 2-0 was 2020, and that team rode a 4-0 start to 13 wins. This roster looks younger in spots but sturdier down the spine—quarterback efficiency, a tight end who wins after the catch, and a defense fast enough to dig you out of bad downs. That’s the toolkit that travels in December.
Coaching showed up, too. LaFleur’s script calmed the game and gave Love easy pictures early. The mid-game pivot—less deep hunting, more rhythm throws—kept Washington from baiting turnovers. On the other sideline, Quinn’s group adjusted as well, taking away a couple of staples after halftime and daring Green Bay to finish drives. The difference: the Packers had more answers on third down and in the middle of the field.
One more ripple: team identity. Last season, the Packers too often needed a splash play to flip momentum. On Thursday, they built their lead with repeatable football—five- to twelve-yard gains, clean situational play, and a defense that lived in third-and-long. That’s sustainable. It’s also the kind of thing that frustrates opponents into mistakes.
Here are the numbers that tell the story:
- 27-18 final at Lambeau, Packers to 2-0; Commanders fall to 1-1.
- Jordan Love: 292 passing yards, with a career-best 214 in the first half.
- Tucker Kraft: first 100-yard game—124 yards and a touchdown on six grabs.
- Defense allowed only three points across Washington’s first seven drives.
- Green Bay becomes the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to open 2-0 with both wins over 12+ win teams from the prior season.
What’s next? Washington heads home to face the Raiders in Week 3, looking to clean up the early-game execution that put them in a hole. The Commanders have a quarterback who can make plays when things break down; now they need the first quarter to match the fourth.
Green Bay, meanwhile, has momentum and a little swagger back in the building. The passing game has layers, the defense is fast, and the margin for error is wider than it’s been in a while. It’s only September, but the way the Packers won—balanced, physical, and adaptable—carries weight in a crowded NFC.