The Green Bay Packers are going to be a problem in the NFC this season.
Green Bay dominated Thursday night’s matchup with the Washington Commanders improving to 2-0 with a 27-18 win. Newest Packer and former Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons led the charge and made a statement in the process. Parsons has revitalized Green Bay's defense, as seen in the first two games. The defense has been phenomenal against two of the better offenses from last year in Detroit and Washington thus far.
“What I’ve been telling everyone, defense wins championships,” Parson said to the media after the win over Washington. “J-Love, I think you give us 20 points, we should be able to win that game It’s all about getting stops and getting the ball back to the offense. As y’all seen against Baltimore and Buffalo, you can have your quarterback damn near have a perfect game but still lose because, guess what, the defense gave up, what, 40 points? So, defense wins championships. I think the fans like points and they like to see the big plays, but when you play great defense, it’s just so beautiful to see.”
Micah Parsons has already transformed the Green Bay Packers
Parsons’ words couldn’t be any truer as Green Bay has scored 27 points in each of its first to games and have run away with both. That old mantra of defense winning championships looks like it could be the motto for this Packers team. If they are going to put anywhere close to 27 points every week then we may see this squad playing into February.
This defense is looking like the best in the league after two games and with Parsons coming off that edge it feels like they should be able to keep that momentum going. They gave up 230 total yards to the Commanders and 246 to the Lions in Week 1. If they stay anywhere close to that pace they will be the No. 1 defense in the NFL.
As long as Jordan Love and the offense stay on track Green Bay may be the biggest threat to knocking Philadelphia off their throne in the NFC this year.
Against the Commanders, Parsons and the defense were off the charts. Parsons posted a a30 percent pass rush win rate, according to ESPN NFL analyst, Seth Walder. The league average for edge rushers is 16 percent and Parsons had a 25 percent PRWR last season in Dallas. So, he’s off to a hot start and putting this Packers defense on his back already. Parsons ended the game with .5 sacks, two tackles, three QB hits and kept pressure on Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels all night.
Green Bay could very well stay undefeated through September with the next two games being on the road against Cleveland and Dallas. Parsons return to Big D in a primetime game on Sunday night in Week 4 against the Cowboys. That could end up being one of the highest rated games of the season with Parsons taking on his old team on a national stage.