The Green Bay Packers were expecting nothing short of a transformative impact when they acquired superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys via trade, and his dominant showing against the Detroit Lions looked like a vintage performance from the All-Pro.
Some of Parsons' best battles as a member of the Dallas Cowboys came against future Hall of Fame right tackle and current Philadelphia Eagles star Lane Johnson. As difficult as those matchups were, the competitor in Parsons will miss locking horns with someone that talented.
Parsons is well aware of the fact that he won't be able to avoid two matchups against elite Lions right tackle Penei Sewell on his new team, and he is looking forward to every chance he gets to battle someone as acclaimed as Detroit's stalwart.
"I'm not gonna be able to get rid of him," Parsons said of Sewell. "He's a hell of a player. I told him, I said, 'You're my new rivalry now. I don't got Lane no more. It's gonna be you. I'mma see you twice a year, so you might as well buckle up.'" After one meeting, Parsons can be declared the big winner in this rivalry so far.
Packers star Micah Parsons relishes new rivalry with Lions RT Penei Sewell
In 29 snaps with the Packers, Parsons managed to pressure Goff twice and sack him once at the end of the game. What was perhaps most impactful, however, was his gravity. While the Lions focused in on Parsons, other members of the defensive line got to work.
Lukas Van Ness, who has received some major criticism for not living up to his status as a No. 13 overall pick, played perhaps the best game of his professional career. Rashan Gary might take another step forward now that he is not the sole focus of an opposing team's pass protection plan.
RELATED: A Packers wide receiver breakout is quietly brewing (and nobody sees it coming)
Sewell is likely not going to play that poorly all the time, as the Packers have seen multiple All-Pro seasons out of the star right tackle. However, Parsons is a unique player who changes the calculus for an entire defense, which could lead to much better performances against a much-heralded Lions offensive line.
Parsons and Sewell will likely be going at it for the next 10 seasons as both teams try to chase championships, though Packers fans will be thrilled if most of those matchups turn out how Week 1 went.