The Green Bay Packers’ 27-18 win over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night time seemed aggressive on the scoreboard, however anybody watching noticed a special story. The Packers dominated on either side of the ball, particularly on protection, in what felt like a press release sport early within the 2025 NFL season.
Inexperienced Bay’s cross rush was relentless from the opening whistle, led by newly acquired star linebacker Micah Parsons. Although nonetheless working his approach again to full well being on account of a lingering again challenge, Parsons made his presence identified.
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Even on a restricted snap depend, he persistently collapsed the pocket and disrupted Washington’s offensive rhythm.
After the sport, Parsons doubled down on an previous soccer fact: protection nonetheless wins championships. “J-Love, I believe you give us 20 factors, we should always have the ability to win that sport,” he instructed reporters, referring to quarterback Jordan Love.
“It is all about getting stops and getting the ball again to the offense. You may have your quarterback play lights out, but when the protection provides up 40 factors, it will not matter.”
His level was clear – whereas fashionable followers love shootouts and highlight-reel performs, championship soccer nonetheless hinges on who could make the essential cease.
Protection setting the tone early in Inexperienced Bay
Via two video games this season, Inexperienced Bay’s protection has seemed like one of many NFL’s most formidable items. In Week 1, they smothered the Detroit Lions, one in all 2024’s top-scoring groups, holding them to only 13 factors. In opposition to Washington, they adopted it up with one other smothering efficiency. They’ve eight complete sacks throughout the 2 video games and the fifth-fewest yards allowed within the league to this point.
And that is with Parsons seeing restricted motion.
Regardless of enjoying simply over half the snaps in each video games, Parsons has already racked up spectacular stress stats. His mere presence on the sphere is forcing offenses to regulate safety schemes, creating simpler alternatives for the remainder of the entrance seven.
Fellow defenders like Rashan Gary and Preston Smith have capitalized, with every making key performs in backfield disruption. On the again finish, Inexperienced Bay’s secondary is feeding off the stress, bolstered by the entrance’s potential to pressure fast throws and tight home windows.
It is early, however the imaginative and prescient for this Packers staff is changing into clear: a balanced assault anchored by an elite protection, able to flipping momentum and suffocating even playoff-caliber offenses.
Parsons’ confidence is not simply discuss. If the protection continues to carry out at this degree whereas he ramps as much as full power, the Packers might very properly emerge as one of many league’s most full groups and actual contenders for a deep postseason run.
