Fresh off division titles, expectations were high in Green Bay and Washington heading into this season. Both teams, however, suffered early setbacks with losses in Week 1.
Redskins vs. Packers 2013 game preview: Which 2012 playoff team will drop to 0-2?
It will be a battle of big-name quarterbacks in Green Bay on Sunday with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers hosting Robert Griffin III and Washington.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
An 0-1 start won’t doom a team’s playoff chances, but after Sunday’s game one of the two teams will be 0-2 and in an early hole to start the season. Dating back to 2008, just three of the last 60 teams to make the playoffs started the season 0-2. If that trend holds true this season, Sunday’s game could have major playoff implications, especially for a game two weeks into the season.
Meet the Packers
Week 1 was more of the same for Green Bay with the Packers struggling to stop Colin Kaepernick, just like they did in the playoffs a year ago. Aaron Rodgers and the offense had success, scoring 28 points against San Francisco, but the defense had major issues.
The Packers allowed 494 total yards, including 404 passing yards. Kaepernick shredded Green Bay on the ground in the playoffs, but this time it was the passing game which gave the Packers fits. If mobile quarterbacks and the threat of the run is an issue, things won't get much easier this week with Robert Griffin III coming to town. Even if he's still working his way back from a knee injury, the Packers still have to respect his ability to run.
Meet the Redskins
The good news for Washington in the season opener was that Griffin started and didn't have any setbacks. The bad news was he looked rusty and tentative early on while the Washington defense struggled to stop the Eagles. Washington made a comeback after going down 33-7, but it was too little, too late.
LeSean McCoy shredded the Washington defense, with the Eagles racking up 263 yards on the ground. Washington will face a completely different test defensively this week. The Packers can throw the ball on just about any team, but don't have much of a ground attach, even with the addition of rookie Eddie Lacy.
Local Takes: Green Bay
The secondary was a major issue for the Packers against San Francisco. Josh VanDyke of Acme Packing Company graded the unit and it wasn’t pretty:
I thought about splitting up the blame individually, but after closer examination, they are all to blame.
Sam Shields and Tramon Williams made a few nice plays after they had been beat on double-move down the field, but when a team only has one real receiving threat, and you fail to even slow him down...you get a failing grade.
Local Takes: Washington
The loss to Philadelphia was a let down for fans, something they are all too familiar with. Still, Ken Meringolo of Hogs Haven wrote it’s just one game:
Let me be very clear: Neither I, nor any Redskins fan out there, need a lesson in losing in the NFL. We know all about it. We know how it feels. We know what it looks like. Losing to Philadelphia is especially painful. Today’s pain is not the same as we have experienced in years past. The difference in what I feel today versus what I have felt in previous seasons is that I don’t think we are a losing team. I don’t feel like the Redskins are a bad team that will struggle to win in 2013. Instead, I feel like we made some stupid mistakes that cost us a game we could have, and perhaps should have, won. It happens every week in the NFL.
Follow the Fun
Be sure to check out SB Nation’s team blogs, Acme Packing Company and Hogs Haven, for more analysis and highlights from the game.
Add these fine follows to your Twitter timeline:
Packers-49ers final grades: we break down a few key performances with a look back at ratings from @PFF http://t.co/xMRgCpfZtc
— Acme Packing Company (@acmepackingco) September 10, 2013
Gif Recap: Highs & Lows of the #Redskins 33-27 loss to Eagles via 'Sopranos' Gifs http://t.co/q3NOLQep10
— HogsHaven.com (@HogsHaven) September 10, 2013
@TyDunne -- Green Bay beat writer
Also, #Packers Notes: Clay Matthews' hit sparks war of words, Boldin beats double coverage, no-huddle to stay... http://t.co/ESGNqzNLqL
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) September 10, 2013
@MikeJonesWaPo -- Washington beat writer
Shanahan "you can't change your expectations ... It's a 16-round fight and we lost the first round."
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) September 10, 2013
Prediction
From the Week 2 picks:
Odds
The Packers opened as a touchdown favorite with some oddsmakers having Green Bay as a 9-point favorite, according to Odds Shark.
Next Week
Green Bay will be back on the road next week, taking on the Cincinnati Bengals. Washington will return home for a matchup against the Detroit Lions.
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