When the NFL schedule was released this spring, very few could have imagined that the Green Bay Packers would start 2-0. For one, the Detroit Lions have had the Packers' number in the Dan Campbell era, save for a Thanksgiving beatdown in 2023. Following that with Washington on a short week, last season's NFC runner-up, spelled disaster.
Then Green Bay acquired Micah Parsons. The conversation changed. Make no mistake about it: Parsons is just one player, but he impacts the whole team. He makes the defense better at all three levels, and in turn, Green Bay will no longer need to have a perfect offensive game to win.
After a rather one-sided affair in Week 2, the Packers head into Cleveland to face a desolate Browns team as heavy favorites. Despite that, the NFL is full of professionals, and on any given Sunday, anything can happen. With all that said, after rewatching the win over Washington, here are the lessons Green Bay can take from the first two games into Week 3.
Lesson 1: Take what defenses give you
When reviewing that tape from Week 1, one of the biggest takeaways was not to force the ball to Matthew Golden. He has a high enough win rate, and the offense will come to him. In Week 2, Jordan Love had a couple of big shot attempts to Golden, but they never came to fruition, just missing on those attempts.
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Instead, it was Tucker Kraft who popped off for a monster game, catching six passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. Fellow tight end Luke Musgrave added 32 more yards. That accounts for more than half of Love's 292 aerial yards. To that same end, Love was also more mobile than a season ago, rushing for a big 14-yard first down to keep a drive going, bowling through a would-be tackler.
Kraft's injury complicates things, but the Packers could unleash Musgrave after a promising start to the season.
So, in a way, the lesson remains the same. Green Bay doesn't have to force the big play. Those will come. We have had teases, and we may even see Golden's first NFL touchdown, but the Packers have enough weapons to pick apart a defense without a huge "home run" style play.
Lesson 2: Darian Kinnard should start if Zach Tom cannot go
The offensive line is tough to grade. There really aren't too many stats that you can go by, beyond penalties and pressures. It ultimately comes back to the "eye test." After the Packers lost Zach Tom to an injury in Week 1, it was Darian Kinnard who stepped up for Green Bay at right tackle. In Week 2, Kinnard split snaps with Anthony Belton, with Belton earning both the start and the bulk of the work.
However, Kinnard passes the eye test. He only tallied 17 snaps, compared to Belton's 51, but he made the most of those snaps. Kinnard's main body of work came in the first half, and not so coincidentally, the Packers scored on those drives. Belton was solid and ultimately showed why he was a second-round pick this spring.
Belton will likely be fine if he has to start in the event that Tom is unable to go, and if Jordan Morgan is called upon to start for Aaron Banks at left guard. But I don't think the team should overthink this. Myles Garrett will be on that right side of the Packers' line. If Tom is unavailable, let the seasoned pro play over the rookie.
Lesson 3: Let the defense loose
This almost feels too easy. Green Bay's defense has been incredible through the first two games, both against two very good offenses. Now coming off the "mini bye" against a struggling team, this has the makings of becoming a masterclass from defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Browns quarterback Joe Flacco has struggled through the first couple of games of the season. So far, he has 489 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He has also taken four sacks. The combination of Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, and Lukas Van Ness should be able to tee off and rack up sacks, while also potentially forcing a premature throw or two from Flacco.
Lesson 4: Clean things up
After a relatively clean game in Week 1, the Packers racked up the penalties in Week 2, committing 10 infractions, which were enforced for 77 yards. Luckily, they overcame the penalties, dug in, and still won the game against a talented Commanders squad.
This is an excellent opportunity to play a clean game, avoid penalties, and continue to announce your arrival to the upper echelon of the NFL.