Packers vs Commanders: Jordan Love and Tucker Kraft fuel 27-18 TNF win at Lambeau
Green Bay steps on the gas early, never lets go
Two weeks into 2025, Green Bay looks like a team that knows exactly who it is. Under the lights at Lambeau Field, the Packers controlled the tempo and beat Washington 27-18, starting 2-0 for the first time since 2020 and stacking a second straight win over a playoff team from last year.
If you were looking for a measuring stick, this was it. The Packers vs Commanders primetime slot showcased a poised Jordan Love and a defense that made Washington chase the game for three quarters. Love completed 19 of 31 throws for 292 yards and two touchdowns, operating with calm feet and quick decisions. He didn’t force big plays; he took them when they came, especially off play-action and in the intermediate windows where Green Bay kept finding space.
The headline on offense belonged to Tucker Kraft. The second-year tight end carved up Washington with a career-high 124 receiving yards on six catches and a touchdown. He kept punishing soft spots in zone, then won one-on-one when the Commanders tried to adjust. His 8-yard touchdown with 8:57 left wasn’t flashy, but it was the backbreaker—clean release, strong hands, and a decisive finish in the red area to push the game out of reach. “Hopefully I can keep stacking games like that,” Kraft said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever gotten over 100 yards, including college.”
That connection with Love didn’t happen by accident. Green Bay leaned on condensed formations and motion to create leverage for Kraft, moving him across the formation and letting him release into space. On third downs, he was the safety net; on early downs, he was the fulcrum that kept Washington from sitting on outside throws. The result: steady chunk gains and a Commanders defense that couldn’t guess right often enough.
Defense sets the tone, Washington scrambles late
Green Bay’s defense did its heavy lifting early. With the high-profile arrival of Micah Parsons adding juice to the front, the Packers generated pressure without overcommitting. Washington managed just three points on its first seven possessions, and by the time the Commanders found rhythm, they were working uphill. Jayden Daniels showed toughness and poise, but he absorbed four sacks for 21 lost yards and spent too much of the night in long-yardage downs.
Daniels’ line—24 of 42 for 200 yards and two touchdowns—speaks to the kind of night he had: patient, resilient, but constantly forced to go the long way. He clawed Washington back within one possession in the fourth quarter, mixing quick throws with scrambles to extend plays. The late push kept things interesting, yet Green Bay rarely looked rattled. The Packers tightened in the red zone, made clean tackles in the flats, and won the situational moments that decide prime-time games.
Washington’s run game never got traction. The Commanders finished with just 51 rushing yards on 19 attempts, a number that stripped away balance and fed the pass rush. Austin Ekeler led the backfield with 17 yards on eight carries, while Daniels added 17 yards on seven attempts. Without consistent first-down wins, the playbook shrank and the clock became an enemy.
The Packers, meanwhile, played on schedule. They logged 404 total yards and mixed personnel to keep Washington guessing. Nothing felt forced. The offense flowed from the ground game to intermediate shots, then back to quick-game timing when Washington tried to heat up the pocket. Love spread the ball to multiple targets, and the protection held up when it mattered most—especially in the fourth quarter after Washington made its move.
You could see how the plan stitched together across four quarters. Early tempo kept the Commanders from substituting freely. Motion and misdirection slowed pass rush lanes. Defensively, Green Bay’s edge pressure forced Daniels to step up into traffic, while the back end squeezed crossers and took away easy throws. It wasn’t a high-variance approach; it was steady, disciplined football.
Perspective matters too. This is Green Bay’s second win in as many weeks over teams that played January football a season ago, following a 27-13 result against Detroit. That’s substance, not sizzle. It suggests a young quarterback settling into command and a roster that’s coalescing around a clear identity: physical up front, efficient on offense, and opportunistic on defense.
Key numbers from the night tell the story:
- Score: Packers 27, Commanders 18
- Jordan Love: 19-of-31, 292 yards, 2 TDs
- Tucker Kraft: 6 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TD (first 100-yard game at any level)
- Washington sacks allowed: 4 for 21 yards
- Commanders rushing: 51 yards on 19 carries
- Packers total offense: 404 yards
Love put it simply afterward: “We couldn’t have started the season off on a better note. It’s a thing we’ve just got to keep building on, but it feels great right now.” The confidence is earned. He attacked the middle of the field, kept his eyes downfield under pressure, and didn’t flinch when Washington tried to flip momentum late.
For Washington, the blueprint to fix this is clear. Protect Daniels better on early downs, give Ekeler more clean looks to keep the chains honest, and tighten the coverage rules against tight ends who can hurt you after the catch. The defense battled, and the fourth-quarter surge showed real backbone. But the first three quarters dug a hole too deep for a road win in this building.
Green Bay now gets the mini-bye that comes with a Thursday slot, valuable recovery time for a team leaning on physical line play on both sides. The NFC North race will stretch for months, but this start changes the tone. The Packers have a quarterback finding answers and a defense that can set the terms of engagement. That combination travels, and it plays in prime time.