Commanders writer lays out how the Packers can disrupt Jayden Daniels, with Micah Parsons a key factor

It was cool to beat the Detroit Lions in Week 1, but the Green Bay Packers don’t have much time to celebrate. It’s a short turnaround before they play the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football, a game with potentially big implications for the playoffs down the road in the NFC.

The Commanders beat the New York Giants in Week 1 and bring a new set of challenges, starting with quarterback Jayden Daniels. It’s a curious matchup, involving the youngest and the oldest rosters in football. So, we invited A to Z Sports’ Commanders beat writer Josh Taylor to talk about how the Packers can win and what they will have to overcome.

How have the offensive weapons beyond Terry McLaurin looked and who should drive more attention from the Packers' defense?

Terry McLaurin looked rusty in the first game of the season, which was expected with him just rejoining the team after getting paid. Deebo Samuel has been a massive target for Jayden Daniels with McLaurin absent, and that’s translated the very first game with Samuel leading the team in receiving, and also led the offense with 10 targets. Zach Ertz is Daniels’ safety blanket, especially in the red zone. That connection is as strong as it was last year. Noah Brown brings a veteran presence, and we’re waiting for rookie WR Jaylin Lane and second-year WR Luke McCaffrey to emerge in the offense. The Commanders run game also looks to be more explosive this season, and not all the pressure is on Daniels anymore.

Jayden Daniels is certainly one of the most valuable players in the NFC. Is there any area of his game that Jeff Hafley can take advantage of?

Jayden Daniels was excellent against the pressure last season, but the Giants tested him anyways, and it paid off. Daniels went three for nine for 29 yards against the Giants' blitz, and he recorded his lowest single-game passer rating against the blitz with a 43.3 rating. Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary should be happy to hear that. This should improve though as the offense settles in more. Thursday might be too soon for that to happen though.

The Commanders have the oldest roster in football. How do you think this affects the team, for better or worse?