Watching the Green Bay Packers dominate against the Detroit Lions was as good as it gets for the fans. Though it may just be one game, it certainly turned heads around the league.
After weathering the storm of watching the game on Sunday, I rewatched it to study what Green Bay did well and what could be improved. There were a lot more positives than negatives in the win, but there are still lessons that the Packers can take into their next game.
Coming up against a Washington team that fell a game short of the Super Bowl last season, and playing on a short week, here is what Green Bay can take into Week 2.
Lesson 1: Get Micah Parsons more snaps
This surely will come. Parsons was on the field for 29 snaps in Week 1, registering two pressures, including the sack he had late in the game. However, the Parsons effect was evident every time he was on the field. While not necessarily known as a run stopper, Detroit was held to minus-2 yards on the rushing plays with Parsons on the field.
Parsons' biggest impact, of course, is as a pass-rusher. In his first game, he registered one sack, as well as drawing attention so that others can benefit. Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness combined for two sacks, and Devonte Wyatt tallied a sack as well. Even the Evan Williams interception came after Parsons' pressure forced Jared Goff into an early throw.
With the Packers having a short week, Parsons may not be fully off the leash yet. He is still nursing a back injury, though it does not appear to be serious. Still, despite learning a new playbook, Parsons should be utilized against Washington.
He was a menace to Jayden Daniels and the Commanders last season. In those two games, Parsons registered a total of 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles. Green Bay should get him more work this week.
Lesson 2: Do not force the ball to Matthew Golden
Despite earning the start in Week 1, the Packers' rookie pass-catcher only caught two passes for 16 yards. While it may not have been the headline-stealing results that Cheeseheads were expecting, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Rewatching Green Bay's offensive snaps, Golden certainly passes the eye test. He hauled in both targets and made the most of the opportunity with the ball. Perhaps even more importantly, though, it was the things that won't show up in the box score. He won his fair share of routes, and those targets will come.
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For now, though, the best thing the Packers can do is keep the offense clicking as it was on Sunday. He takes the top off the defense and opens things up for guys underneath. Golden has electric speed and can make incredible things happen when he does get the ball. But the Packers should not force the ball to him. Rather, they need to let the opportunities come where they will.
Lesson 3: Keep feeding Josh Jacobs
On the flip side, Green Bay should continue feeding Josh Jacobs. Pro Football Focus graded Jacobs with a 59.2. Detroit's run defense has been pretty solid the past few years and held Jacobs to just 66 yards on 19 carries.
On a positive note, Jacobs found the end zone midway through the fourth quarter. He had to work for the yards he did record, with 55 of his 66 yards coming after first contact. That may be expected, though, as Detroit is still a stout unit.
The yards and stats will come. Jacobs is still an elite running back, coming off another Pro Bowl campaign. Washington only allowed 74 rushing yards in Week 1, 44 of which came from Russell Wilson. This is another good defense, led by Joe Whitt Jr., but the Packers should continue to lean heavily on Jacobs in Week 2.
Lesson 4: Keep it simple
Green Bay's offense was pretty darn good against the Lions. Still, it did feel Matt LaFleur may have gotten a bit too cute in the middle of the game. With the first half winding down, the Packers' offense went with a direct snap to Josh Jacobs, which Detroit immediately stuffed.
This led to the Packers needing to punt just before the half, with the Lions also getting the ball on the other side of the halftime break.
After receiving the second-half kick, the Packers' defense held the Lions to a field goal, their last score before a garbage-time touchdown. The Packers punted the two times they touched the ball in the third quarter, starting with a three-and-out, followed by an eight-play drive that gained 45 yards before having to kick.
The offense got back in order in the fourth, scoring a touchdown and a field goal to put the game on ice. You can't score on every drive in the NFL. Drives will stall out. It is a given. Putting up 27 points against a talented Lions team is impressive. That said, the Packers should stay within themselves here in the early going of the season.
Lesson 5: Stay disciplined
All things considered, the Packers played a clean game. The team only committed four penalties for 40 yards, a stark contrast from the early going last season.
There was a debatable taunting call on Xavier McKinney on Detroit's first scoring drive of the game, erasing what would have been 3rd-and-7 from just across midfield, and instead giving the Lions a 1st-and-10 at the 30. Aside from these, a hold on a punt return and an inconsequential offside late in the game would be the only infractions.
For Green Bay to remain successful this season, it will need to stay relatively clean and disciplined. They did it in Week 1, and can certainly do it in Week 2.