After starting 2-0, and putting up dominant performances in both games, against two of the top teams in the NFC, it might be a good idea for the Packers to reel in expectations and to keep their focus on the week ahead. Certainly, if you’re coach Matt LaFleur, that’s one of the goals with this team.
And then there’s Rasheed Walker. Not only is Walker looking ahead, he is not exactly looking ahead with humility by his side. Walker dropped a quote on Wednesday that will surely grab some attention, though it should be pointed out that he was looking both backwards and forwards at the same time.
“If the goal is to keep it going,” Walker said of starting 2-0, “then I think we can go undefeated, honestly.”
Now, again, this is nothing new for how Walker sees his team. He said: “I mean, personally, I also tell people that we could have gone undefeated the past two seasons. We lost a lot of the games off a couple plays, but I feel like our offense has been playing so good and so disciplined, and our defense is playing even better.”
Packers Rank Among NFL’s Best
Few would argue with Walker that the Packers have looked like the best team in the NFL at this point, with wins over the reigning NFC North champion Lions and the NFC finalists from 2024, the Commanders. The normally effective Packers offense has put up 54 points in two weeks and the Packers defense, with new star Micah Parsons in tow, has allowed just 31 points.
The point differential of plus-23 is the best in the NFC and second in the league.
The Eagles and Bills are still considered the tops in the league at most media outlets, but The Athletic pushed the Packers to No. 1 after Week 2, writing of Dan Quinn, the Washington coach that gave LaFleur a job in Atlanta, “LaFleur has led the Packers against a team coached or coordinated by Quinn four times since 2019. His quarterbacks have thrown 12 touchdown passes against zero interceptions and had a 144.7 passer rating in those games, all of which were wins. Some thanks, huh?”
Browns Struggling Heading Into Week 3
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was highly complimentary of the Packers ahead of Week 3, pointing out that they already had a “terrific” front on the defensive side of the ball before adding Parsons. The Browns are 0-2 entering the game and, at minus-25, have the third-worst point differential in the league.
And, Stefanski said, the offense keeps getting better behind LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love.
“It’s a tremendous offensive attack that Coach (Matt) LaFleur has going. …” Stefanski said. “(Love has) the ability to throw it to all their guys, whether it’s the receivers, the tight ends or the running backs. And it comes in a variety of scheme. It can be hard play action shots down the field. They can spread you out very quickly with some of the things they do. They’re an excellent motion team.
“So, it’s a great, great challenge. But there’s certainly a number of guys on their offense that they try to get the ball to.”
Packers Starter Turns Heads With ‘Undefeated’ Prediction