Dan Quinn Reveals Strategy to Contain Micah Parsons in Week 2 Clash Against Packers
Dan Quinn knows Micah Parsons as well as anybody in the NFL, and the Washington Commanders head coach is already putting schemes in place to stop the roving All-Pro pass-rusher against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2.
Quinn coached Parsons to some of his best football with the Dallas Cowboys, but he knows the Commanders need two things to keep his former protege quiet when they visit Lambeau Field for Thursday Night Football. Namely, recognition and numbers.
Without those things, the Commanders risk franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels getting overrun by a fearsome Packers front seven. It’s a group built on more than just Parsons’ explosiveness and versatility.
Unfortunately, Washington’s offensive line struggled to contain a New York Giants unit with similarly dynamic playmakers in Week 1.
Dan Quinn Has Answers for Micah Parsons
Quinn made Parsons a star by shifting the former Penn State stud all across the front. This roaming blueprint stressed offensive lines to identify Parsons’ starting point and react to how he rushed the pocket.
The first priority for the Commanders is knowing where Green Bay’s No. 1 is before every play. As Quinn told reporters on Tuesday, September 9, “like Micah and other great players, you want to, you know, know where they are to how to go play, and if you have vulnerability in a spot, you want to make sure you can fortify that to his strengths. You don’t just leave it to chance.”
Those words imply the Commanders will commit extra blockers to Parsons once they zero in on his position. It makes sense, especially when Washington’s offense is home to a powerful supplementary force, rugged tight end John Bates.
The latter usually shows his true value in the running game, but Bates also made his presence felt as a pass-protector last week. Notably on this play against 2025 NFL draft third-overall pick Abdul Carter (51), highlighted by Last of the Fullbacks.
Carter is another flexible pressure specialist who shares many similarities with Parsons, but the rookie lacks the veteran’s elite speed around the corner. It’s a quality Quinn talked up when he revealed “in Dallas he was one of our fastest players, so that’s the hardest thing to simulate for an offensive tackle to see the first couple, two or three steps. It’s not at a speed that you can simulate in a practice rep. I think there’s been some rushes that he could surprise some people if you haven’t faced him, knowing that he can really jump off the ball,” per Commanders.com Senior Writer Zach Selby.
Slowing Parsons down will mean putting another body in his path. Either by keeping a tight end over him on the line of scrimmage or by chipping with a running back.
There is some good news thanks to the offseason trade that acquired marquee left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The five-time Pro Bowler kept Parsons under wraps as a member of the Houston Texans last season, when the multi-faceted edge defender “matched up against Tunsil for three snaps and had zero pressures,” according to Selby.
Tunsil can handle his end, but Parsons is most likely to slide across to rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. This year’s 29th pick impressed on his debut, but Conerly needs help to avoid being left on an island and losing.
He did lose against Brian Burns, when the Commanders slid a double team toward Kayvon Thibodeaux on Tunsil’s side of the line, per Bleacher Report’s Brandon Thorn.
The play highlighted the difficulty the Commanders face tying to slide protection when there are multiple gifted pass-rushers on the field. It’s an issue that won’t go away against Parsons and the Packers.
Commanders Can’t Ignore Protection Problem
Daniels took three sacks and was pressured as many times by the Giants, per Pro Football Reference. Some heat was inevitable when the Giants put Carter, Burns and Thibodeaux into the lineup, but Quinn won’t have enjoyed seeing his QB1 taking enough punishment to appear on the injury report for this week.
Quinn should be particularly unnerved by how easily Carter got to Daniels from a standup alignment rushing over center Tyler Biadasz, highlighted by Talkin’ Giants.
Parsons regularly caused havoc with this same scheme on Quinn’s watch. Stopping a repeat will be tough enough for the Commanders when the Packers can also unleash skilled edge disruptors Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness, as well as versatile defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.
This group combined with Parsons for a quartet of sacks against the Detroit Lions last week. Every member of the contingent is talented, but Parsons demands special answers.
Taylor Swift Makes Surprise Appearance at Travis Kelce’s Soft Opening for 1587 Prime
The Kansas City Chiefs took a frustrating 27-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in their 2025 season opener.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce registered two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown; however, it wasn’t enough to make up for wide receiver Rashee Rice’s absence (suspended) or Xavier Worthy exiting on the first drive with a dislocated shoulder.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes did everything he could to bolster the offense. He completed 24-of-39 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown, along with six carries for 57 yards and a rushing score. Kansas City’s defense failed to stop Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who completed 73.5% of his passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns.
Neither Kelce’s fiancée, Taylor Swift, nor Mahomes’ wife, Brittany Mahomes, made the trip to São Paulo, Brazil, for the international showdown. However, fans can expect to see both women at Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs’ home opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.
Before the Super Bowl LIX rematch, however, Swift showed up to support Kelce in his new restaurant venture in Kansas City.
Taylor Swift Attended the Friends & Family Soft Opening For 1587 Prime in Kansas City
While the Chiefs are now 0-1, sitting in last place in the AFC West, Mahomes and Kelce put the loss behind them to host the soft opening of their restaurant, 1587 Prime.
According to Deuxmoi, Swift attended the friends and family event on September 8. While no photos of the famous couple emerged yet, “Taylor wore in a blue denim mid-thigh dress paired with wedges, her hair swept to the side, while Travis kept it casual in a green striped shirt and cap,” TMZ reported.
“We’re told the two acted like any normal couple — laughing with his teammates, trading quick kisses, and flashing smiles across the room whenever they drifted apart…. After more than two and a half hours of socializing, our sources say Taylor and Travis slipped into a back area together to wrap the night.”
The restaurant’s cocktail menu features a nod to the 14-time Grammy winner with a special drink called “The Alchemy,” the name of a Kelce-inspired song from her album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” The drink, made with vodka, Pierre Ferrand dry curaçao, aronia berry, cranberry, strawberry, lime, and oolong, per TMZ, arrives with a unique fire presentation.
The steakhouse also has a cocktail named “Queen B,” for Mahomes’ wife, who also attended the fancy affair on Monday night with the couple’s three children, along with Mahomes’ brother, Jackson Mahomes, and numerous Chiefs teammates.
Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce Officially Open Their Restaurant To The Public On The Chiefs QB’s Birthday
Mahomes and Kelce first announced their plan to open a steakhouse at the Loews Hotel in Kansas City in March 2024. The restaurant announced it will officially open on Wednesday, September 17, just before Week 3 of the NFL season.
The date is also notable as it marks Mahomes’ 30th birthday. Mahomes seemed to confirm he’ll be at 1587 Prime for their big opening night. He commented on the restaurant’s post, “30th Birthday Party?!?! 🎉🥳.” Kelce added, “Let’s go KC!!! 🔥🔥.”
What better way to drum up more attention for 1587 Prime than hosting his birthday at the restaurant. For fans looking to come and help celebrate, their reservations website opened on August 20. However, reservations at the two-story, 10,000-square foot restaurant are already completely booked for several months.
