We saw more than just glimpses of the Green Bay Packers’ defensive front getting home in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. They caused havoc and headaches for the Lions all afternoon.
Next up is a matchup with the Washington Commanders on Thursday night. In this one, both Green Bay’s defensive front and Washington’s could have massive evenings.
Let’s start with the visiting Commanders.
Last week, Washington played the New York Giants, who have struggled with consistency on their offensive line for years. Russell Wilson is a retread at quarterback who has clearly already played his best ball, and it’s well behind him. Despite that, it’s impossible to negate the impact Washington’s defensive front had on the Giants’ offensive line in Week 1.
According to PFF, the Commanders generated 24 total pressures against the Giants. It led to three sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 14 quarterback hurries.
Javon Kinlaw, the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick in 2020, made his Washington debut in glorious fashion. Kinlaw was the highest-graded player for the Commanders, per PFF, and finished with two tackles for loss, two quarterback pressures, one quarterback hit, and a grade of 89.7.
Eddie Goldman is another addition to the interior of the Commanders’ defensive front in the offseason, and he was their third-highest-graded player (84.0).
It was one of the running themes for the Commanders in their win, and it turned Wilson’s afternoon into a nightmare. But how will it translate against a Green Bay offensive line that was phenomenal in pass protection against the Lions?
There are two big worries for the Packers on a quick turnaround into a Thursday night affair.
Aaron Banks, Green Bay’s prize free-agent acquisition, is dealing with an ankle injury. He left Sunday’s game as a result and showed up as a Did Not Participate on Monday’s estimated injury report. His status for Thursday is well in doubt.
The same goes for Zach Tom, who earned a lucrative extension in the summer. Tom left Sunday’s game with a hip injury and, like Banks, was listed as a DNP on Monday’s estimated report.
Jordan Morgan took over at left guard for Banks, while Darian Kinnard slotted in at right tackle. Rookie Anthony Belton got mop-up duty at right tackle on three snaps late in the game. Both Morgan and Kinnard allowed quarterback pressures on Sunday.
There’s a lot of promise surrounding Morgan, a first-round pick in 2024 who can play left tackle or either of the guard positions. Ideally, the Packers would have Banks ready to go, but that might not be the reality on a short week.
Kinnard was acquired late this offseason as a depth piece when concerns grew about Green Bay’s depth beyond their top six or seven offensive linemen. The Packers could throw both into the gauntlet on Thursday against a Commanders defensive front that just had its way with the Giants.
Even with two starters injured, Green Bay’s offensive line is superior to New York’s. Still, that doesn’t entirely alleviate the concern that there would be two reserves starting against a formidable foe.
Conversely, Green Bay’s defensive front is in an advantageous matchup. According to PFF, three of Washington’s five lowest-graded players against the Giants came from the offensive line. Additionally, it’s impossible not to focus on Micah Parsons, in particular. In two matchups against the Commanders a year ago, Parsons had a combined 4.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits. Again, in just two games.
Is that good?
Rashan Gary had five quarterback pressures created against the Lions, while Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt each had four. Parsons had three, while Karl Brooks chipped in two, and Edgerrin Cooper and Colby Wooden both had one.
Given what the Packers put on display against the Lions and the struggles with Washington’s offensive line at times against the Giants, there’s nothing to suggest a quiet night or a step back for Hafley’s defensive line.
Via Next Gen Stats, the trio of Parsons, Gary, and Van Ness was on the field together for seven snaps against Detroit. The Lions had a combined six yards on those plays.
As Parsons becomes more settled and the back continues to heal, Hafley will continue to experiment with deploying that trio situationally. On Sunday, when Hafley went to it, we saw Van Ness line up at defensive tackle. That trio on the field at the same time could become a living hell for opposing offenses.
If Green Bay were healthy up front on its offensive line, there might be a different narrative entering the contest in Week 2. Because that isn’t the case and the Commanders have some dudes up front on their defensive line, they will pose quite a test for the Packers.
On the other side of the coin, Parsons has dominated against Washington, and now he’s in Green Bay. He’s part of a defensive front that manhandled the Lions all day on Sunday.
Both units should see success on Thursday and will go a long way in determining who comes out on top.