Burgundy & Gold Reaction: Week 2 Humbling Loss

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September 16, 2025

by David Earl

Flashback Moment

To say this game against the Green Bay Packers was a humbling loss would not do it true justice. The offense was ineffective throughout the entire game and the defense was overmatched. There was a crazy feeling of deja vu from the 2024 week 11 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Their 3rd down efficiency was slightly better against the Packers’ defense, at 31.3% (5 for 16) as compared to the 25% against the Eagles last year but that’s the only good news from this game. Washington had a total 230 net yards and averaged 3.5 yards per play. The Packers’ pass rush contributed to Jayden Daniels completing just 57% of his passes and finishing with an 85.4 quarterback rating. While Daniels did complete 68% of his passes against the Eagles, he finished that game with a worse 81.4 rating. Each game had similar pressure rates – as the Packers applied 24 pressures during Daniels’ 52 dropbacks, culminating in a 46% pressure rate. This resulted in 2 sacks and 4 additional quarterback hits. Between this pressure plus the speed and discipline of the Packers’ defense, Daniels totaled 17 yards off 7 attempts, averaging just 2.4 yards per carry.

The running game produced a 2.7 yards per carry average, which was down from the matchup against the Eagles, where they produced 3.3 yards per carry. This production, or lack thereof, accompanied by the terrible passing game does not do any service to a revamped offensive line. The addition of left tackle Laremy Tunsil and Brandon Coleman moving inside to left guard was supposedly going to lead to a very strong blind side for Daniels. I will not call them a disaster this early in the season but there is much to be cleaned up going forward, especially with right guard Sam Cosmi still out and rookie right tackle Josh Conerly still trying to get his footing. Conerly’ struggles were to be expected, but the poor performance by the usually steady anchor center Tyler Biadasz was not. Too many times, he appeared to miss his assignments and was delayed in reacting when defenders ran stunts. It was an uncharacteristic game from Biadasz. The entire front line created minimal running lanes and Daniels was unproductive both in the pocket and on the run. Yes, it is only week 2 and there is plenty of time left in the season, but we all have seen just how quickly an NFL season can get away from an organization.

 

Defensive Disaster

 

The Washington defense had a pressure rate of 38%, which resulted in 2 sacks and 4 additional quarterback hits, but quarterback Jordan Love remained fairly comfortable in the pocket. Love finished with a 113.9 quarterback rating, completing 62% of his passes for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Packers’ offense generated 6.4 yards per play and a 3rd down efficiency rate of 41.7%. Their running game averaged 4.5 yards per rush as the Packers’ total offense amassed 404 total yards. This included two first-half scoring drives going for over 90 yards resulting in touchdowns on both drives. The first of these drives went 7 plays for 96 yards, averaging 13.7 yards per play. The second drive went 92 yards, averaging 9.2 yards per play. The Packers’ first offensive drive did result in a turnover on downs, but it was also a drive in which a 39 yard touchdown pass was called back for offensive holding. Then we saw the Packers engineer the two long touchdown drives with a forced punt between those drives. The first half had more of the Packers’ self-imploding with penalties early and a few errant throws to otherwise open targets. The game could have been easily 21 or 24 points by the Packers to Washington’s lone field goal.

The one lone bright spot defensively was rookie corner Trey Amos, who allowed 1 reception on 4 targets against. He was also active in the run game, which is something you cannot say about S Will Harris and LB Frankie Luvu. Luvu finished with 2 assisted tackles while playing on all 68 defensive snaps. Will Harris was out of position against Packers’ tight end Tucker Kraft, as he was part of a secondary allowing him 6 receptions off 7 targets for 124 yards. Once again, this defense has no answer for the tight end. As for the run defense, they did hold their lead running back Josh Jacobs to a 3.7 yards per carry average but were unable to produce key short-yardage stops late in the game against their run game. Sure, much of this falls on the defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., but the lack of any true playmaker on defense certainly plays a key role as well. Last season, a resurgent Dante Fowler allowed this defense to take some key chances that paid off but they cannot afford to continue picking up veteran players in hopes of such success. Unfortunately, teams are not looking to trade any such type of impact players during the season. Whitt, alongside Dan Quinn, will need to figure out more creative ways to utilize young, talented players like Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil to apply pressure on the quarterback, especially now that they have lost defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. for the season.

Pivotal Part of The Season

The next five games before heading into Kansas City on Monday Night Football will be absolutely vital for this team. This performance was a clunker for sure but it’s too early to write off the season as well. In two of these games, Washington faces two AFC West opponents in the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers. These two matchups will feature the two rookie running backs in Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. To start with, the Raiders are coming off a terrible season both offensively and defensively not ranking top 10 in any statistical category. Washington plays them early enough in the season so the offense behind newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith will still be finding chemistry with his new wide receivers. The Raiders are still rebuilding, and Washington will hold home-field advantage here in what should be one of their easier wins this season as this should be a perfect rebound game. As for the Chargers, Washington’s offense does not match up well against the Chargers’ defense, plus having the travel to Atlanta the week prior, then clear across the country to face the Chargers could prove to be an issue.

The Atlanta Falcons will field one of the most dynamic running backs in the NFL in Bijan Robinson and an elite wide receiver in Drake London. Last year, we saw Michael Penix Jr finish the season completing 58.1% of his passes and earning a total 78.9 QBR. So the Falcons’ offense, to be a serious threat, will hinge on Penix Jr. as his first two games resulted in an overall 88.9 quarterback rating, completing 63.5% of his passes, throwing only 1 touchdown pass. The Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears offensively look to be a problem for Washington to some degree but they will only go as their respective quarterbacks go. Defensively, I do not see them posing much of a threat against Washington’s offense, so these 2 games and the Raiders this week could be the momentum Washington’s offense could use heading into Kansas City. Washington should do no worse than 3-2 in this stretch if they are the team many feel they are heading into the season but a 4-1 stretch would be ideal, especially considering 4 of their next 5 games after this stretch. If the current knee injury to Jayden Daniels proves to be more serious going forward, that now becomes a whole new dynamic of the season, so we will all collectively hold our breath and hope that will not be reality.

Additional Fan Comments From Packers Game