How Green Bay took control
Tucker Kraft picked a national TV stage to deliver the first 100-yard receiving game of his life, and he didn’t waste it. The Green Bay tight end ripped through Washington’s secondary for six catches, 124 yards, and a fourth-quarter touchdown that put the game on ice as the Packers beat the Commanders 27-18 at Lambeau Field.
On Thursday Night Football, the Packers vs Commanders matchup was defined by timing and toughness. Jordan Love played point guard with purpose, finishing 19 of 31 for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He attacked intermediate windows, trusted play-action, and kept the offense on schedule long enough for Green Bay to stack leads of 7-0, 14-3, and 17-3 before closing it out.
Kraft was the difference-maker. He won up the seam, slipped tackles after the catch, and turned a handful of routine throws into chunk gains. His 8-yard score with 8:57 left pushed the lead back to two possessions and stalled Washington’s last, best surge. For a player still carving out his role, this looked like a leap, not a blip.
Josh Jacobs gave Green Bay balance with 23 rugged carries for 84 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t break a home run, but he kept the chains moving and forced Washington to honor the run. That let Matt LaFleur lean into layered route concepts and play-action shots that clearly suited Love.
Green Bay’s defense did the rest. With the addition of Micah Parsons turning the pass rush into a problem from the opening series, the Packers made Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels work for everything. The Commanders managed only three points across their first seven possessions, bogging down behind negative plays and hurried throws. Austin Ekeler never got untracked, finishing with just 17 yards on eight carries as the Packers’ front won the line of scrimmage.
Washington finally punched back late. Daniels found rhythm in the fourth quarter and finished 24 of 42 for 200 yards and two touchdowns, repeatedly locating veteran tight end Zach Ertz (six catches, 64 yards and a score) to steady the offense. The Commanders trimmed it to a one-score game, but Green Bay answered with the Kraft touchdown and then leaned on situational defense to close it down.
- Opening salvo: Green Bay’s script produced an early touchdown and an immediate tone-setter.
- Short yardage edge: Jacobs’ downhill style converted drives into points and kept Washington’s defense on the field.
- Fourth-quarter dagger: Kraft’s 8-yard TD with 8:57 remaining halted the Commanders’ rally.
- Run defense clamp: Ekeler bottled up at 17 yards on eight attempts amplified Washington’s third-and-long problem.
Why it matters and what’s next
This is more than a tidy home win. It’s Green Bay’s second straight victory over a team that reached the playoffs last season, coming on the heels of a 27-13 takedown of the Lions. At 2-0 for the first time since 2020, the Packers look like a group with a clear identity: efficient quarterbacking, a physical run game, and a defense that closes windows fast.
Love’s start backs up the franchise’s bet on him. Through two weeks, he’s closing in on 600 passing yards with four touchdowns and, more importantly, control. He’s protecting the ball, getting the offense lined up, and trusting his eyes. Nights like this—when the game doesn’t need fireworks, just precision—are where you see a quarterback maturing.
Kraft’s emergence changes the math for defenses. If he keeps threatening the seam and breaking tackles after the catch, he becomes a pressure release against blitzes and a mismatch in the red zone. Defenses already have to account for Jacobs’ volume and Green Bay’s play-action; layering a reliable tight end on top of that keeps nickel and safety rotations guessing.
The defense will travel. With Parsons’ presence tilting protections, the rest of the front took advantage, and the back seven tackled cleanly. Washington couldn’t run the ball, got behind the sticks, and rarely forced Green Bay into coverage busts. That’s the blueprint for a team that wants to win field position, squeeze time of possession, and force opponents to play patient, mistake-free football.
For Washington, the record drops to 1-1, and the tape will be honest. The offense needs a faster start, cleaner protection rules, and some variety in the run game to help Daniels stay ahead of the chains. His late push—two touchdown passes under real pressure—shows poise, but the gap between that urgency and the first three quarters is where the Commanders will focus. Ertz looks like the steady target Daniels can trust when the picture muddies.
There’s also a situational story here. Green Bay handled third downs better on both sides of the ball, leaned into field position, and avoided the big swing against them. Washington’s defense had flashes, but the Packers’ ability to answer after the Commanders closed the gap was the kind of veteran response that flips close games in prime time.
The numbers at a glance say it cleanly:
- Jordan Love: 19/31, 292 yards, 2 TDs.
- Tucker Kraft: 6 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TD; first 100-yard receiving game at any level.
- Josh Jacobs: 23 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD; tone-setting in short yardage.
- Jayden Daniels: 24/42, 200 yards, 2 TDs; late surge after a slow start.
- Zach Ertz: 6 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD; reliable underneath and in the red zone.
- Austin Ekeler: 8 carries, 17 yards; bottled up by Green Bay’s front.
Green Bay leaves the night with something sturdier than style points: a 2-0 start that echoes 2020 and a formula that looks built to last. Washington leaves with two lessons—start faster, and run the ball well enough to keep a defense like this honest. If both teams take the right things from this one, we’ll see them playing sharper football when the calendar turns.
