Tonight’s TNF matchup between the Washington Commanders and the Green Bay Packers is more than just a second look at two teams trying to set the tone for their seasons, it’s a chance to try and sort out what from week one was genuine and what might have been a mirage.
For Green Bay, the story coming out of their opener was twofold. First and most obvious was the improvement on defense. The addition of Micah Parsons was always going to be a big positive, but the defense looked sharper and faster even when the standout rusher wasn’t on the field. Second on the list is Jordan Love, who delivered a masterclass in efficient quarterback play against the rival Lions. Are these trends we can expect to see develop going forward, or did the Packers simply catch the Lions in the early stages of a transitional period?
On the other side, Washington’s offense showed flashes of creativity and explosiveness last week, but consistency remains in question. Jayden Daniels did enough against the New York Giants (233 yards, 63.3% comp, 1 td), but how will he look against a rejuvenated Packers pass rush? Can the Commanders continue to thrive on high leverage offensive plays? Is that a sustainable part of their identity, or merely a set of bright spots in one statistically insignificant game?
Week two in the NFL often serves as a reality check, helping us determine which takeaways from last week we can trust, and which ones are trash.
NFL power ranking - After week one, the Packers are climbing a crowded field near the top of most NFL power rankings.