Commanders vs. Packers Preview (9-9-25)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: Washington Commanders
GREEN BAY, WI— Week one is already in the rear view for both teams. It’s time to face off Thursday night at Lambeau Field, as the Washington Commanders take on the Green Bay Packers.
Betting Odds
The Green Bay Packers are favored by 3.5 points to take the victory over Washington on Thursday night. The over / under for total points is 48.5.
Injury Report
Green Bay
● OL Zach Tom: Oblique
● WR Dontayvion Wicks: Calf
● WR Matthew Golden: Ankle
● DL Micah Parsons: Back
● WR Jayden Reed: Foot
● Guard Aaron Banks: Ankle
● DL Barryn Sorrell: Knee
● S Zayne Anderson: Knee
● CB Nate Hobbs: Knee
● DL Brenton Cox: Groin
● CB Bo Melton: Shoulder
Washington
● RB Austin Ekeler: Shoulder
● WR Noah Brown: Knee
● P Tress Way: Back
How to watch the game?
Location: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Start time: 8:15 p.m.
Where can I watch: Amazon Prime
Storylines
Green Bay (1-0) is coming off a dominant 27-13 home victory against the Detroit Lions in the NFL’s first week back. The Packers’ defense sacked Jarred Goff four times and picked him off once. The team’s newest addition, Micha Parsons, made his eager Green Bay debut after being acquired from the Dallas Cowboys late last month. In a limited capacity, Parsons showed why he was one of the best edge rushers in the game. Playing only 29 of 65 defensive snaps, Parsons had one tackle, one tackle for loss, one QB hit, one sack, three pressures, which forced an interception, and the other leading to a negative yardage play.
Washington (1-0) also had a good showing in the first week, defeating their division rival, the New York Giants, 21-6. The Commanders’ defense suffocated the Giants’ offense, with the defensive line dominating the trenches, generating pressure, and shutting down the run game. The Giants had two field goals all game but could not find the endzone once. Daron Payne, Dorrance Aromstorng, Javon Kinlaw, Deatrich Wise, and others played amazingly as a unit. Deebo Samuel was Washington’s focal point in the offense, catching seven passes for 77 yards and scoring a touchdown on a 19-yard rush. He looked like his usual self, very agile/quick on the edges, underneath, and created separation on some of his receptions across the middle of the field.
Players to watch
● Green Bay Josh Jacobs: Jacobs is a force to be reckoned with. I watched him a lot during his tenure with the Raiders, and it was special to watch him get better every season and grow into a top-five running back in the league. He’s a runner who runs with purpose on every play, fights for every yard, is tough to take down, bouncing off of defenders, and moves gracefully, cutting in and out of gaps to find the best lanes to break away. Week one, he had 19 carries for 66 yards and a rushing touchdown. Jacobs can determine the course of the game if you let him get going; the Washington defensive line must be able to answer that task.
● Washington Terry McLaurin: McLaurin is a player to watch weekly for opposing defenses. He’s the second most important player for this Washington offense. Against the Giants, McLaurin was quiet, being held to two catches for 27 yards. It could’ve been at least three, except for a call that didn’t go his way in the game. But, even so, the Commanders still won comfortably. Expect Kliff Kingsbury to dial up some early targets for McLaurin in Thursday’s game. With the dynamic ability of the offense, look for him to be moved around a lot to generate some earlier looks. I like McLaurin against this Green Bay secondary.
History vs. Green Bay Packers
I. This will be the 41st meeting between the Packers and Commanders. Green Bay leads 22-17-1 all-time against Washington.
II. Washington took the previous meeting back in the 2022 season against Green Bay in a 23-21 home victory. At the time, Taylor Henicke was Washington’s starting quarterback, and future Hall of Famer and Packer great Aaron Rodgers was playing in his final season with Green Bay.
III. The Commanders have a 5-13-1 record when playing at Lambeau Field, last winning back in 1998.
How can the Commanders open the season with a victory?
The Commanders’ defensive line must dominate like it did in week one. They must generate pressure on Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love and force him to make quick decisions, which he has a knack for, trying to make the big plays when sped up in the pocket. Containing Jacobs in the backfield is a must, and slowing him down is a must. That means stacking the box in specific scenarios and throwing more bodies at him, but the secondary must also be wary of the shots down the field that Love and the offense like to take to throw off defenses.
The offense has to play cleaner this week, meaning fewer penalties, providing a cleaner pocket for Jayden Daniels, and utilizing all of your running backs to take the burden off of Daniels running the ball. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, or “Bill, had a nice debut of 10 carries for 82 yards and a rushing touchdown. I want to see more touches for him and him getting outside the numbers with that explosive burst he plays with.
Daniels knew he didn’t perform his best last week, as he acknowledged that after the game. But he still looked good and made big plays when needed, expect a sharper Daniels, and look for some shots down the field.
