In 73 snaps over four days, Micah Parsons seems to have transformed the Green Bay Packers.
The defensive dynamo acquired via blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys is now a star pass rusher for a Packers squad that's 2-0 for the first time since 2020 with a suddenly imposing defense, and is keying a club that looks like world beaters after impressively defeating two playoff teams from last season in less than a week's time.
Parsons -- in only 44 snaps -- produced a team-best eight QB pressures and half a sack in the Packers' impressive 27-18 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night.
"What I've been telling everyone: defense wins championships," Parsons said after the game. "[Jordan] Love, you know, you give us 20 points, we should be able to win that game. It's all about getting stops and getting the ball back to the offense.
"As y'all have seen against Baltimore and Buffalo, you can have a quarterback damn near have a perfect game and still lose because guess what, the defense just gave up, what, 40 points? So, defense wins championships. I think the fans like points and they like to see the big plays, but when you play great defense it's just so beautiful to see."
It's been beautiful barbarism thus far, as the Packers defense has served up savage beatings to highly respected offenses manned by Pro Bowl quarterbacks in consecutive games. Against the Detroit Lions and Commanders -- the NFC's No. 1 seed and an NFC Championship Game participant last season, respectively -- the Packers have relinquished a combined three touchdowns and 476 yards. Though it's been just two games, it's arduous not to imagine what dreams may come for this Packers team.
"I don't think we make this type of move if we didn't believe we could do that," Parsons said of the trade that brought him to Titletown. "Shout out to the organization for believing in me and thinking I could come in and make an impact. I just want to keep holding up this standard and level that they expected me to come in and play with."
Parsons was sent to Green Bay in exchange for a pair of first-round draft picks and three-time Packers Pro Bowler Kenny Clark. He also got a massive extension, a deal that Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones were unable to work out.
Newborn as the season still is, Dallas' loss has most certainly been Green Bay's gain thus far. It led on Thursday night to a cascade of, "Thank you, Jerry" chants when Parsons took the Prime Video postgame stage.
Prior to that, Jayden Daniels and the Washington offense were helpless against Parsons and the Green Bay defense over the first three quarters, mustering just three points, seven first downs and 112 yards. In the definition of a game that wasn't as close as the final score, Washington was able to rally to a degree, but the message had been delivered regarding the supremacy of Jeff Hafley's defense.
"Relentless. Just physical, aggressive, attacking," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of a unit that produced 21 pressures and four sacks. "The play style is exactly what we want from these guys, and it always starts with the energy and effort. That's gonna get you through and can overcome for some of the mistakes. I think our front is extremely disruptive getting after the quarterback. It didn't seem like they ran the ball very effectively at all either.
"I think Haf's done a hell of a job. I think our players are doing a great job, feeding off one another. It's definitely exciting to watch our defense go out there and perform because I think they allow us to get up on somebody."
Parsons very much appears to be the piece the Packers were missing, though adding one of the greats of the game is usually going to shift things around for the better. However, it's apparent the Packers defense has more confidence than it did prior to No. 1 joining it.
In Parsons' mind, it should only improve as he's loudly calling for more snaps. The four-time Pro Bowler has been given a questionable designation due to a back issue two weeks running, had to ramp up after a hold-in with the Cowboys and needed to get acclimated to a new scheme. Thus, he's been held back. He's ready to be let loose.
"I just hope I'm full-go," Parsons said. "Honestly, it's pissing me off. I tell them it does more worse than good. I get tight and stuff. Hopefully they just let me off, man. Can't hold a dog back forever."
Out of the gates, the Packers have emerged as one of the big dogs in the NFL hierarchy.
And at this early juncture, the Micah Parsons project has been a major success.
As the former All-Pro is quick to point out, though, nothing's really been achieved yet. The chase for greatness is just getting underway in Green Bay.
"Best defense in the NFL, [that title] is earned," Parsons answered when asked if the Packers had claimed that designation. "It's early to say. The best defenses do it consistently. Consistency equals greatness. We had a great start, so I'm just happy about that. We can be a great defense. It's just up to us to continue to push and strive for that."
