Thursday seemingly served up a prime NFL matchup – literally, the Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers kicking off Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” lineup at Lambeau Field while ushering in Week 2 of the league’s 2025 season.

And while a matchup of 2024 wild-card squads wasn’t exactly as crisp as cord-cutters would have hoped for, it also wasn’t short on star power, highlights or lowlights. The Pack improved to 2-0 after emerging with 27-18 triumph, though the game didn’t seem as close as the score might indicate.

Still, there were plenty of compelling subplots and vignettes – which provided enough fodder for a breakdown of “TNF” winners and losers. They are as follows:

WINNERS

Jordan Love and Packers offense

It’s not even firing on all cylinders just yet, but the third-year QB1 and Co. look like a machine that could – and maybe should – produce some championship cheese over the next five months. A week after taking out the reigning NFC North champion Detroit Lions 27-13, Green Bay averaged 6.4 yards per play Thursday night, Love passing for 292 yards and two TDs and needing just 19 completions to do so. There are some penalty problems that need ironing out, though.

Josh Jacobs

He extended his Packers record to 11 consecutive games with a touchdown, including the playoffs. Jacobs can break the league record, held by Hall of Famer John Riggins – coincidentally, he set it with Washington over the 1982 and ’83 seasons – if he can extend his heater by another five games. Jacobs rushed for 84 yards against Washington.

Micah Parsons

Two games, two wins, 1½ sacks, a seemingly larger role Thursday − when he had eight pressures − and now a mini bye to rest his back ahead of road games at Cleveland and then what will be his hyper-hyped return to Dallas.

Sterling Sharpe

The recently enshrined Pro Football Hall of Famer, who spent all seven of his sterling NFL seasons with the Packers, saw his name added to Lambeau Field’s façade Thursday night. Had Sharpe not injured his neck, he would’ve been a shoo-in for 1,000 career receptions – maybe even 1,200, which would have placed him in the league’ all-time top five.

The uprights

Packers K Brandon McManus was rejected by the left upright on a 48-yard field-goal attempt right before halftime. The Commanders’ Matt Gay hit the right upright – no good – from 52 yards to start the second half. All told, chalk up two for the posts while the kickers combined to miss three FGs.

LOSERS

Jayden Daniels and Commanders offense

No reason to panic with a 1-1 record. But the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year and his charges have looked a bit disjointed through two weeks and managed just 230 yards against Green Bay, the lowest output since Daniels was drafted. Worse, veteran RB Austin Ekeler appeared to suffer a serious Achilles injury in the fourth quarter that seems likely to make the team rue its decision to trade former starter Brian Robinson Jr. last month. Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt is a promising rookie but hardly seems up to the task of being a three-down workhorse at this stage. Daniels, Ekeler and Croskey-Merritt rushed for 17 yards apiece.

Jerry Jones

As Parsons was serenaded with "Thank you, Jerry" chants following the win, it's starting to increasingly appear as if the Cowboys owner may never live down a blockbuster trade that seemed borne of stubbornness on both sides − but mostly Jones'. Said Parson, fueled by plenty of motivation still despite landing a four-year, $186 million contract from Green Bay, on the "TNF" post-game set: "I'm pissed off." Packers-Cowboys, Week 4.

Terry McLaurin

After briefly holding out of training camp, then holding in for most of the summer while awaiting a three-year contract extension, Washington’s longtime captain has yet to earn his money through two games. In fairness, McLaurin is coming back from a bum ankle, yet he was back on the practice field as soon as he got paid. After catching two passes for 27 yards in Week 1, he had just five inconsequential receptions for 48 yards Thursday.

Matthew Golden

Another receiver who has yet to make an impact, though Golden should get a grace period. The first Packers wideout drafted in the first round in 23 years, the rookie was only targeted twice Thursday and didn't reel either in. He caught two balls for 16 yards in the opener.

Josh Conerly Jr.

Washington’s 2025 first-rounder is also struggling. In Conerly’s defense, he’s 21 and making the transition from left tackle at Oregon to the right side in the NFL. After getting consistently beaten in Week 1 by the New York Giants, he was abused by Parsons at times Thursday. No real shame in that, but Conerly’s troubles are yet another aspect of the Commanders’ sputtering offense.

Uniform variants

After debuting their mostly white “Winter Warning” uniforms last season, the Pack broke them out Thursday night … Sept. 11 … 11 days before … the first day of autumn. I’m all for uniform variety – as generally boring as Pack Bridezilla is – but can we at least be sensible about the usage? This strays into the territory of the Indianapolis Colts’ wearing their “Indiana Nights” at 1 p.m. ET on a Sunday (not kidding).

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winners, losers of Packers' win over Commanders: Feel the (Jordan) Love

Reporting by Nate Davis, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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