NFL Football
2025-09-11 - Washington Commanders at Green Bay Packers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 2
Thursday 11th September 2025 - Scheduled 8:20pm
1:20am (British Time)
Preview
You should never overreact to Week 1 of the NFL season, but there will be a few Green Bay Packers (1-0) fans feeling pretty good after the crushing win over NFC North rivals Detroit Lions last Sunday.
One of the big criticisms faced by this young Packers team in the 2024 season was an inability to beat the best teams in the NFL and so that opening win is going to feel pretty good.
They are facing another contender for a place in the Super Bowl, which is how Green Bay will feel about themselves, and Thursday Night Football sees the visit of the Washington Commanders (1-0). The 2024 season was one of the best in recent years as far as the Commanders were concerned, even if they were beaten pretty handily by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Expectations have been raised and there is a feeling around Washington that the team have a window behind Quarter Back Jayden Daniels in which to win a Super Bowl. They have made decent moves in the off-season to strengthen the team and the Commanders will be very pleased with the way the Defensive unit operated in limiting the New York Giants to just 6 points in Week 1.
However, Head Coach Dan Quinn and the rest of those staff members will be aware that the Green Bay Packers are a much more significant test for all involved.
Last year, the Commanders disappointed when it came to defending the run, but they have looked to make sure that is not the case in 2025 and the Week 1 performance was encouraging. They will take some heart out of the fact that the Packers Offensive Line were not able to really establish the run in the win over the Detroit Lions and the Commanders will be keen to see if Quarter Back Jordan Love can put this Green Bay team on his back.
The Secondary didn't allow Russell Wilson to do much in the Week 1 win, but again this is going to be a much stiffer test with the Packers having a deep core of Receivers to call upon.
Stopping the Packers will be challenging throughout, especially on the road, but the Commanders impressed with their Offensive Line last week and that will give them some confidence heading into this early opportunity to make a statement around the League.
However, there will have been plenty of people taking note of the way the Packers Defensive Line were able to shut down the Detroit Lions in Week 1, although one nuance here is that Jayden Daniels is very capable of tucking the ball and picking up big yards with his legs from the Quarter Back position. Jared Goff isn't a slouch, but Washington can game-plan for Daniels to make running plays and that could keep the Commanders in front of the chains, which will be very important considering an 'old enemy' is now playing for the Green Bay Packers.
Micah Parsons might not be on a full snap count, but showed the impact he can have on a game last week and the Washington Offensive Line were not able to offer a lot of time for Jayden Daniels last season. There were signs that the improvements have yet to kick in for the Commanders in the win over the New York Giants in Week 1 and so you have to feel some drives could be stalled.
Both teams are playing after home wins over Divisional rivals, but there has to have been more intensity for the Green Bay Packers as they looked to show everyone that they can beat good teams.
That may leave them a little short of the energy needed on Thursday Night Football with this being a short week and getting the hook over a key number is important.
Green Bay will be expecting to win, but the Washington Commanders come into this contest with plenty of belief too and it could come down to a late Field Goal, either way, to decide the winner and so the points on offer for the road team look worth picking up.
Prediction
Take the points with the road underdog on Thursday Night Football.
The Pick :
Green Bay Packers 23-20 Washington Commanders
