The Green Bay Packers are 2-0 on the year after picking up a 27-18 win over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night.
The Packers have now knocked off two playoff teams from last year and look poised to be one of the best teams in the NFC this season, let alone the entire NFL. The addition of Micah Parsons has elevated this team to another level, and it's already showing on the defensive side.
The Packers' defense is flying around and has made things difficult on two elite offenses in back-to-back weeks. And while Parsons doesn't want to say Green Bay has an elite defense yet, he believes the Packers will win every game if the offense can put up a certain number on the scoreboard.
"What I’ve been telling everyone, defense. J-Love, I think you give us 20 points, we should be able to win that game," Parsons said after the game, per NBC Sports. "It’s all about getting stops and getting the ball back to the offense."
Micah Parsons Already Has High Hopes for Packers Defense
While it's only been two weeks, the Packers' defense has been stellar. They held both the Detroit Lions and Commanders to 18 or fewer points, with neither team compiling 250 yards of total offense. Green Bay also has eight sacks with just three touchdowns allowed. One of the most exciting stats for this defense is that they are allowing just 48.5 rushing yards per game, as well as 2.4 yards per carry.
Shutting down the run was something that fans thought might be a problem with defensive tackle Kenny Clark no longer in the middle, but it looks like that unit is just fine. Eliminating the run has forced teams in passing situations, giving the pass rush the ability to just pin their ears back and rush the passer.
The speed that Green Bay has in the front seven is top-notch, which is making everything easier for the guys in the backend. Parsons has 1.5 sacks, but there are five other defenders with at least a half sack so far. The attention that the Penn State product commands is only creating better matchups for his teammates up front.
The way this unit is flying around is scary for the rest of the NFL. And with the Packers' defense humming, it makes things easier for the offense. The Jordan Love-led attack saw total yards increase from 266 to 404 in Week 1 to Week 2.
Green Bay's offense has the playmakers and the coaching staff to be a very effective unit. If all goes to plan, the Packers will make good on Parsons' comments of 20 points being enough to win a game, and that's music to the ears of every GB fan.