Hogs Haven
Welcome to Thursday Night Football in Green Bay. The Commanders and Packers were both playoff teams in 2024; each won its opening week game over a division rival and enters Week 2 tied for the division lead. Only one team will be undefeated by the time the sun rises on Friday morning.
The good news for Commanders fans is that Washington has won 3 of the past 5 meetings between the two teams, with the latest game having been played in October 2022. The bad news is that home team won each of those 5 contests. In fact, Washington hasn’t won at Lambeau Field since October of 1988. Dan Qinn’s team will be keen to end that particular streak.
It won’t be easy. Like Washington, the Packers are among the favorites to win the NFC Championship this year.
One advantage for Washington might be player health. The only players that have issues for Washington are punter Tress Way — but Dan Quinn minimized concerns about his availability — and DE Deatrich Wise, who popped up with a knee and ’limited’ status on Wednesday. Their status will become clear in the hours prior to kickoff.
The Packers have already ruled out two players — both defensive backups — but have 5 players with ’questionable’ status, including starting LG Aaron Banks, starting RT Zach Tom, edge rusher Micah Parsons (who played last week despite a similar designation), and DB Nate Hobbs. The loss of one or both offensive linemen, in particular, could create opportunities in the trenches for Joe Whitt’s defense.
Late in the season, as the playoff picture is taking shape, NFL fans will likely look back to this early-season game as one of those that is highly impactful in determining NFC playoff seeding. A road win against the Packers would help send a strong message to the rest of the league and set the tone for a promising 2025 season for the burgundy & gold.
The weather should be mild. The crowd should be hostile. The game should be enjoyable.
The game opened with Green Bay on offense at the 29-yard line in their all-white uniforms.
They moved the ball effectively to start the game, assisted by a defensive holding penalty against Lattimore to give them 1st & 10 at the Washington 40-yard line. A false start on the next snap made it 1st & 15; two plays later, the Pack faced 3rd & 9. An apparent touchdown pass was negated by an obvious hold by the Green Bay right tackle, forcing 3rd & 19 on the GB side of the midfield stripe. A checkdown pass went for 16 yards to bring up 4th & 3. A deep pass by Jordan Love was easily knocked down by rookie CB Trey Amos to force the turnover on downs — the play of the game so far.
Washington’s offense started its first drive at its own 33 yard line.
They started this week the same way they started...
