Can Washington Commanders End 36-Year Road Drought vs. Green Bay Packers?

The Washington Commanders travel to Green Bay on Thursday night motivated to prove they belong in the conversation among the best teams in the NFC.

Washington’s run to the NFC title game last season resulted in a schedule that includes five primetime games, including tonight’s match-up at Lambeau Field.

While the Commanders were handling the visiting New York Giants 21-6, the Packers were winning in a higher weight class, beating the visiting Detroit Lions 27-13.

Green Bay vaulted into the top five in most NFL power rankings. Washington is in the second five on many of those lists and can make a strong statement tonight, but it won’t be easy on a short travel week.

“Embrace the chaos,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said of the short week.

The Commanders were far from perfect Sunday.

They had 12 penalties -- including one that erased a scoring chance at the end of the first half -- dropped passes, miscues and led only 14-6 until midway through the fourth quarter.

The Packers led 27-6 until the Lions scored late in the game and present the type of matchup and personnel problems the Commanders did not face on Sunday.

Jayden Daniels passed for 233 yards against the Giants, including seven completions for 77 yards to Deebo Samuel in his Commander debut. In six games against Green Bay, the former 49er has 15 catches for 237 yards and one touchdown.

Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt had 10 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Washington faces a familiar nemesis on the retooled Packers' defense. Former division rival Micah Parsons, acquired 14 days ago from the Dallas Cowboys, has 10.5 sacks in eight games against Washington including 4.5 of Daniels two games last season.

Parsons played 29 snaps Sunday, producing a sack and three QB pressures against Lions quarterback Jared Goff. He will likely see more action against the Commanders. Quinn, his former defensive coordinator with the Cowboys, joked that the Packers should sit Parsons due to the short week.

Daniels was more realistic, saying: “You don’t let game-wreckers wreck the game, and, you know, you gotta keep an eye on him.”

The Commanders ran for 220 yards against the Giants, including 68 by Daniels. The Packers allowed the ninth-fewest rushing yards to quarterbacks in 2024. Green Bay held Detroit to 46 yards on 22 carries.

The matchup for Washington on defense is also problematic.

The Packers ran the ball 52.3 percent of the time last season (third highest in the NFL). The Commanders allowed the third most rushing yards.

Packer running back Josh Jacobs finished with 66 yards on 19 carries Sunday but scored a touchdown for his ninth consecutive game.

“He’s a tough guy and he’s able to make big plays that will score touchdowns in the Red Zone,” Quinn said. “Their run game, that’s definitely one of the key points in this game.”

The Commanders shut down the Giants passing attack Saturday, as Russell Wilson finished 17-of-37 for 168 yards. But Jordan Love completed 16-of-22 passes for 188 yards and two scores. Ten Packers had catches Sunday.

Finally, Washington has not won a road game against the Packers since a 20-17 victory in Milwaukee in 1988 and are 0-6 since.

“We got a lot left in the tank,” Quinn said. “Had a tough division game just like they did. You know, they gotta deal with us too. It’s a tough match-up, both sides, exactly the type of environment you want to play in.”