The Packers looked a little clunky at times and still came away with a dominant 27-18 win over the Commanders on Thursday in a festive white-out atmosphere at Lambeau Field.
It was easily the loudest game I’ve ever attended and that includes the NFC Divisional Playoff vs. the Cowboys on Jan. 11, 2015. (Dez Bryant never caught it.)
The Packers outgained the Commanders 404-230 in total yardage and only won by nine. Green Bay had 10 penalties, Josh Jacobs had one run of 10 yards or more and the offensive line allowed 11 hurries thanks mainly to Zach Tom and Aaron Banks being inactive.
Regardless, it didn’t matter. This defense is like watching 11 Corvettes race to the ball.
“What I’ve been telling everyone, defense — ‘J-Love, I think you give us 20 points, we should be able to win that game,’” said Micah Parsons, who tallied three hurries and half a sack against Washington. “It’s all about getting stops and getting the ball back to the offense.”
That’s the microcosm of this defense. It is really playing as one group. Nobody is playing hero ball and thinking about personal stats. Granted, Parsons might be the best pass rusher in the league, but he has made every single defensive player better the moment he opened the doors at 1265 Lombardi Ave. Keisean Nixon might have had his best game as a defensive back with four pass breakups in addition to a pair of tackles.
“The ball was just coming my way,” said Nixon. “I usually don’t get that many targets in a game, but I was in my zone. I knew what I can do.”
It has only been two games but the Packers have aced both tests against two very good teams. This is a special team not simply because of one or two guys but because of how well those guys fit together. In 53 pass attempts, Jordan Love doesn’t have an interception. Eleven players have caught a pass this season — including Malik Heath’s amazing 37-yard toe tapper on Thursday.
But the player that has really raised eyebrows for me is second year safety Javon Bullard. He is currently third on the team in total tackles with 14 after racking up five solo tackles on Thursday. This is a team with Parsons, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt and he’s only behind Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker for tackles. That’s pretty amazing. He is showing that teams cannot just look at his 5-foot-10, 198-pound frame and expect to get chunks of yards.
“No big plays,” Parsons said. “We made them earn everything, and that’s the good part.”
The scary part for the rest of the NFL is that this team still has room to grow. They’ve played two games and have played dominant football but have still allowed room for improvement.
Right now the defense is playing in fifth gear as it sprints to the ball on every play. When the offense catches up by being more consistent, this team is going to be downright scary.