• NFC Playoff contenders face off: After reaching the postseason in 2024, both teams opened 2025 with convincing divisional wins at home, each starting the season 1-0 against the spread.

• Washington defensive improvements: The Commanders posted a top-eight PFF team defense grade (72.3) in Week 1, anchored by a league-best 88.3 run-defense grade while limiting the Giants to just 34 yards on 17 designed runs.

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Washington Commanders vs Green Bay Packers (-3.5) [Total: 48]

Game Overview

Thursday Night Football features a high-powered clash between NFC contenders, as the Commanders and Packers square off following dominant Week 1 divisional wins — each covering the spread with ease to open the 2025 campaign.

Expectations for Washington were modest entering Jayden Daniels’ rookie year, with a preseason win total of just 6.5. But the Commanders quickly became a betting darling, starting 7-1-1 against the spread before market corrections took hold.

Daniels looks even sharper this year, and he orchestrated an offense that ranked third in EPA per play in Week 1. With new weapons and fresh momentum, Washington gets a shot at flipping last year’s road-cover struggles into prime-time success.

On the other sideline, the Packers made a statement of their own in Week 1, comfortably dispatching the reigning NFC North champion Lions. Green Bay went 9-9 against the spread last season — including 5-4 at Lambeau — and opened 2025 looking sharper on both sides of the ball.

The addition of Micah Parsons has already impacted the Packers’ pass rush. While he wasn’t the primary disruptor in Week 1, his presence drew attention and opened lanes for others, helping Green Bay total four sacks. That sets up a compelling trench battle against a Washington offensive line that just held the Giants’ front to bottom-eight marks in both pass-rush win rate (39.0%) and pressure rate (26.8%).

Jayden Daniels’ mobility is a factor, but this week’s test comes against a more complete and explosive front.

RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: Under 80.5 rushing yards (-115)

What may be even more impressive about Washington in Week 1 was the defense — a unit that struggled consistently last season but opened 2025 with a statement. The Commanders earned a top-eight PFF team defense grade (72.3), led by an NFL-best 88.3 grade against the run, holding the Giants to just 34 yards on 17 designed runs.

That front could be a major issue for the Packers, who ranked 27th in EPA per rush and 22nd in yards before contact (0.5) per attempt in Week 1. With offensive linemen Aaron Banks (ankle/groin) and Zach Tom (oblique) both missing practice this week, there are real concerns about Green Bay’s ability to establish the run.

Josh Jacobs remains a dynamic talent, but the rushing yardage market may be inflated. Since the start of 2024, Jacobs has cleared 80 yards just seven times in 19 games — and he managed only 66 in the opener.