Section 400’s Week 2 Thursday Night Football Roundtable

The first week of the NFL season has come and gone, and arguably two of the best teams in the NFC are set to face off tonight when the Commanders travel to Green Bay to duel with newly-aquired superstar Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers.

Both playoff squads from a year ago entered 2025 with even higher expectations, which supplanted themselves deeply thanks to great week one performances. A win by either squad tonight will firmly place either Washington or Green Bay as a major early-season Super Bowl contender, but which Lombardi Trophy hopeful holds the edge?

Check out our full preview of the game below, with some of our staff’s favorite bets and picks for the game as well.

Blue Cheese

Green Bay backed up the offseason hype with a dismantling of reigning NFC North Champion Detroit to open the season. The Packers have been known to fizzle out in January despite high expectations before, but is this the year they finally get back to the Super Bowl?

BH: Unless ToyotaThon extends into February, Jordan Love is going to struggle getting over the hump in a conference loaded with teams possessing better quarterbacks. One of those opposing signal-callers plays opposite Love tonight. I have the Packers facing off against the Bills in the Super Bowl, but that was fueled off Eagles hatred.

JA: The Packers are favorites to win the NFC North, sure, but you’re going to have to dethrone the Eagles first to take the whole NFC.

MK: The Lions clearly lost a step with Ben Johnson gone. Now, the Packers are still very good but NFC favorites over the Eagles? C’mon man.

NS: I have the packers winning the division. It is a hot take but before they got Micah I already picked them to win their division. I think they’ll rank as a top two team record wise in the NFC.

Not So Fa(s)t

After some exaggerated training camp reports had the fantasy community calling him ‘Fat Deebo’, Deebo Samuel showed out in week one with 96 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown against the Giants. Can the newest weapon in Washington finish as a top 24 wide receiver in fantasy football?

BH: I am extremely mad at myself for not drafting any shares of Samuel in fantasy drafts this year. He’s going to finish the season with 1,100 receiving yards, about 200 more on the ground, and 11 total touchdowns. He’ll probably score two more of those against my Giants in Jetlife. To put a number on it, I’ll say he finishes right at WR18.

JA: This was a product of Terry McLaurin’s holdout. Give it another week or two and Deebo will go back to WR3, flex numbers. 80 receptions 1050 total yards 5 total TDs. Not top 24.

MK: 77 rec/864 yards/6 TD 66 rush/275 yards/2 TD. Tonight: 6 rec 71 yards – 3 rush 18 yards no TD

NS: Deebo looked electric and back to his former self so far. After a bad year last year; i wasn’t sure if he had much left in the tank. I think he finishes as WR12 this year. 65 catches 1,100 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns. 38 rushes, 250 yards, 4 TDs.

Award Tour

I think you all know why I’m asking this question, which of these quarterbacks will finish higher in 2025 NFL MVP award voting?

BH: It’s going to be Jayden Daniels. You’ve seen the podcasts, you’ve heard the rants. This is the finale of the Jayden Daniels award trilogy. 2023 Heisman, 2024 ROY, 2025 MVP.

JA: Jayden Daniels.

MK: Jordan Love because the Jayden Daniels sophomore slump is imminent.

NS:  It would be easy to say Jayden after last year but give me Love. I think he’s coming with a vengeance this year.

Curds & Chilli

It’s a staple of every roundtable we do here, give me your best bet for tonight!

BH: I’m backing Bill. Austin Ekeler enters this contest banged up on a short week, meaning the seventh-round rookie should steal the show in (on?) Prime [time]. Jacory Croskey-Merritt over 37.5 rushing yards.

JA: Take the over 47.5 points.

MK: I’ll give you a parlay. Packers over 23.5 team total points, Jordan Love 200+ pass yards, and Romeo Doubs 25+ receiving yards. (+150)

NS:  Mathew Golden over 60 receiving yards and Bill Croskey-Merritt over 11.5 carries and over 65 yards rushing.

Chicken Dinner

Who wins tonight and what is the final score?

BH: As much as I want to see Washington improve to 2-0, home field proves crucial in a back-and-forth Thursday Night Football banger. Green Bay wins it, 30-28.

JA: Going with the home team here. Packers win, 31-28.

MK: Packers 24 – Commanders 19

NS:  Packers 32 Washington 29