Hogs Haven
NFL.com
It’s entirely possible that Micah Parsons was the missing piece for a Super Bowl in Green Bay. But in order for the Packers to compete for a championship, Jordan Love needs to be a huge part of the equation.
In Week 1 against the Lions, Love started hot with two first-half TD passes and a big fourth-down sneak to set up a touchdown that put Detroit away. His preseason left thumb injury appeared to be a non-factor in the opener, although Love was not perfect. He got away with one shaky series that featured a dropped pick and an INT called back by penalty.
The Commanders know their Super Bowl formula includes improvement on defense, and the Week 1 results were very encouraging. Even vs. a limited Giants offense, Washington clamped down, allowing six points, 231 yards and 4-of-16 conversions on third downs. Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw were disruptive inside, Deatrich Wiseand Dorance Armstrong heated up the edges and 2024 trade acquisition Marshon Lattimore looked far better than he did a year ago.
The Packers know they must run the ball more consistently with Josh Jacobs. But Love also must threaten downfield with his receivers. Romeo Doubs showed life, rookie Matthew Golden can roll and Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks figure to play major roles again. They also have a major threat in tight end Tucker Kraft, who caught a touchdown in Week 1.
Washington Post (paywall)
A year ago, the Commanders rookie running back wasn’t sure his NFL dream would come true.
By so many measures, Croskey-Merritt’s rise in popularity — among the Washington Commanders’ fan base, with owners of fantasy football teams, within his own locker room — is among the least likely stories in the infancy of this NFL season. He played just that one game in his final year of college, which came at his third school. He was selected in the seventh and final round of the draft, after 244 players and 24 running backs had been taken before him. He did nothing but make plays throughout the Commanders’ offseason workouts, gained 70 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown in two preseason games to easily secure a roster spot, and essentially made three-year starter Brian Robinson Jr. expendable by trade.
On Sunday in his NFL debut, Croskey-Merritt ran 10 times for 82 yards against the New York Giants. The list of rushers who gained more yards in Week 1: Derrick Henry of Baltimore, Travis Etienne of Jacksonville and Breece Hall of the New York Jets. Combined NFL regular season games for those three: 228. To various degrees, they’re experienced stars who have been featured in their offenses for years. Croskey-Merritt arrived as a borderline nobody.
No matter. He...
