There was no more convincing win in Week 1 of the NFL season than the Green Bay Packers’ victory over their divisional rival, the Detroit Lions. The offense was firing on all cylinders for most of the game (minus the 3rd quarter), and the defense was flying around the field from start to finish. Special teams even contributed by not making any major mistakes. The vibes are high in Titletown coming off a big win after months of waiting for revenge on a Lions team that beat them twice last year. Unfortunately, there isn’t an entire week to relish the win, as another very good football team is coming in for a primetime showdown on Thursday Night Football. Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders will be in town for what is shaping up to be a very important early-season game in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
When looking at the schedule back in May, it seemed ideal to have an early-season Thursday night game—especially against a strong opponent like Washington. After Sunday’s game, this matchup feels like it’s coming at the perfect time. The vibe around Green Bay and in the locker room is as high as it has been in years, and the quick turnaround while players’ bodies are still fresh should be a big benefit. Playing at home certainly doesn’t hurt either. What’s most exciting about this matchup is that it really gives Matt LaFleur’s team a chance to establish themselves as the favorite in the NFC.
Yes, the Packers’ odds after the Micah Parsons trade technically already made them a favorite going from +2000 to +1200, but that was on paper. Winning games on the field is what truly establishes a team as the favorite. The Washington Commanders played in the NFC Championship just a season ago, and they return essentially the same roster this year in an attempt to run it back. They made a few upgrades, most notably at left tackle when they swung a major trade for Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans. They also brought in edge rusher Von Miller to boost their pass rush. While he isn’t what he used to be, he provides a veteran presence for the Commanders’ defense. He and his 129.5 career sacks are still going to command attention from opposing offenses.
Speaking of veteran presence, this matchup also presents a fun side note: the oldest team in the NFL, the Commanders, facing off against the youngest team in the NFL, the Packers. Two teams with starkly different roster-building philosophies. Washington prefers to surround their young franchise quarterback with established players in an attempt to capitalize on a window that’s open right now. Green Bay, on the other hand, is surrounding their young franchise quarterback with other young players, hoping they grow into a perennial contender and keep the window open for the foreseeable future. After the trade for Parsons and the dominant win on Sunday, that window is now as wide open as can be. A win over Washington on Thursday would only strengthen this fan base’s Super Bowl hopes.
I know it’s only been one week, but look at the other NFC teams considered favorites. The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles struggled against a Cowboys team that just traded away their best player. A win is a win, but I doubt many Eagles fans were flying too high after that close outcome. The San Francisco 49ers are another aging team whose window might already be closing. After a 6-11 campaign in 2024 that saw them battle countless injuries to key players, they entered 2025 hoping to stay healthy and make one final run with their core. Yet not even one game into the season, they’ve already lost a major piece, placing All-Pro tight end George Kittle on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
The Rams were a trendy preseason pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and they did win Sunday against a visiting Texans team, 14-9. But if I were a Rams fan, I’d be very concerned about the offensive line’s ability to protect Matthew Stafford, who is already dealing with an achy back. A new metric, which combines Pro Football Focus grading with ESPN’s win rate to measure total pass protection, had the Rams’ offensive line finishing dead last in Week 1. PFF’s grades can be subjective, but win rate is as reliable a stat as there is. As for the Lions, the Packers just dominated them at home. While Detroit is bound to perform better as the season wears on, Green Bay just showed they have the blueprint to beat them.
I’m also one of the few who don’t really consider Tampa Bay a true threat. They’re a good team, no doubt, but I see them as a tier below the others mentioned. Which brings us back to the Commanders. Washington held the Giants to just six total points in their Week 1 victory. They forced New York into only three points on two trips inside the 5-yard line and made Russell Wilson look uncomfortable all game. Jayden Daniels is as exciting a player as you’ll find in today’s game, and head coach Dan Quinn has already led one team to a Super Bowl appearance and brought this same Commanders squad within one win of another.
The Packers now find themselves in a golden position to take two wins over two of the top teams in their conference early in the season that they will be jockeying with for playoff position in a few months. What once looked like a tough part of the schedule could turn out to be a blessing, giving this team valuable momentum and confidence with big wins—something they struggled to achieve a season ago. As if the Parsons trade wasn’t enough to put the league on notice, beating two playoff teams from last year to start the season certainly would. Take care of business Thursday, enjoy a small break, and then head to Cleveland and Dallas before the bye.