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Green Bay Packers win over Washington Commanders made them fifth NFL team in 55 years to achieve this feat

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Sep 14, 2025 12:09 PM ET

The Green Bay Packers have been one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL over the past couple of weeks. This is, of course, due to the fact that they acquired three-time All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys right before the season started. And while Parsons has not played a full slate of snaps (as the Packers ramp him up following his missing training camp), the effect he has had on the defense is easy to see.

No longer can opponents double-team Pro Bowler Rashan Gary. Instead, they must pick their poison, deciding between which of the two, Parsons or Gary, upon which to primarily focus. The result has been Gary racking up 2.5 sacks and Parsons 1.5 in Green Bay’s first two games.

Additionally, the Packers offense has been firing on all cylinders, putting up 27 points in each of their first two contests. Quarterback Jordan Love is healthy and accurate, throwing four touchdowns and no interceptions. Tucker Kraft burst on the scene on Thursday night, hauling in six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown.

And, by beating the Washington Commanders this week, the Packers have put themselves on an elite list of teams.

The Green Bay Packers are fifth team in 55 years to start year by beating 2 teams with 12+ wins the season prior

Green Bay Packers win over Washington Commanders made them fifth NFL team in 55 years to achieve this feat 1 Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) celebrates after sacking Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 27-18.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

When the 2025 NFL schedule first came out, many wondered just how fast the Packers would be able to start given their first two opponents. The Detroit Lions finished last year 15-2 and were the top seed in the NFC. The Commanders were 12-5 and appeared in the NFC Championship Game.

But Green Bay was not only able to defeat both of these teams, they beat them quite handily. With Parsons in tow and new defensive line coach, the pass rush has been better than it has been in years, and the Packers recorded four sacks in each game along with many quarterback pressures.

Additionally, they held both the Lions and Commanders to less than 60 yards rushing.

But with their win on Thursday, the Packers also became just the fifth team in the last 55 years to defeat two teams that had won 12+ games the season before in each of their first two games.

Per John Breech of CBS Sports:

“With those two wins, the Packers became just the fifth team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to open their season with two straight victories over teams who each won at least 12 games in the previous season. (The Lions went 15-2 last year while the Commanders finished 12-5.)”

The other four teams to accomplish this feat were the 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2001 Miami Dolphins, 2002 Denver Broncos, and 2022 Buffalo Bills.

All four teams finished their season over .500, with the Bills going 13-3 that year.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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