Micah Parsons Declares Penei Sewell His New Rival After Dominant Packers Debut
Micah Parsons found a way to make an impact in his Green Bay Packers debut despite playing on less than half of their defensive snaps in Week 1’s win.
The 26-year-old superstar pass rusher also said he found a new rival in Detroit Lions stalwart right tackle Penei Sewell, praising him as “a hell of a player” but also sending him a warning about their future matchups as opposing players in the NFC North.
“I’m not gonna be able to get rid of him,” Parsons said of Sewell on Sunday following the Packers’ 27-13 victory. “He’s a hell of a player. I told him, I said, ‘You’re my new rivalry now. I don’t got [Philadelphia Eagles veteran right tackle] Lane [Johnson] no more. It’s gonna be you. I’mma see you twice a year, so you might as well buckle up.'”
Micah Parsons Tallied 1st Packers Sack Against Lions
The Packers did not have Parsons at full strength for Sunday’s game against the Lions. He has a joint sprain in his back that sidelined him for all of training camp with the Dallas Cowboys before his trade to Green Bay. The injury has also forced the Packers to limit his practice and playing time before unleashing him as an every-down rusher.
During Sunday’s game, though, it might have been hard to tell that Parsons is ailing.
Parsons played just 45% of the team’s defensive snaps against the Lions, but he tallied three quarterback pressures on those snaps that amounted to quite a bit for the defense. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Parsons’ three pressures resulted in a completion for a 2-yard loss, an interception to safety Evan Williams and a fourth-quarter sack.
Parsons’ strong season-opening performance should validate the Packers. They made a bold, all-in play when they traded two first-round picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Cowboys in exchange for Parsons. They also signed Parsons to a four-year, $188 million contract extension as part of the trade, pushing all of their chips to the center of the table to give themselves an excellent shot at vying for a Super Bowl.
Whether it works out for the Packers remains to be seen, but the early returns are good.
How Will Packers & Lions Fare in November Rematch?
The Packers flipped the tables on the two-time reigning NFC North champion Lions in their first game of the 2025 season, thrashing them in a dominant victory that makes them look like the favorites to control the division race over the next several months.
The Packers and Lions both could look much different in November, though, when they meet again for their second regular-season matchup — this time, on the road in Detroit.
The Lions struggled in many ways against the Packers in Week 1, but they are adjusting to the loss of both their offensive and defensive coordinators — Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn — from the past few seasons. It showed in their running game, which averaged just 2.2 yards per carry with its elite tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
The Lions also had difficulty disrupting quarterback Jordan Love. On his 22 dropbacks, they managed just seven pressures and two quarterback hits, notching zero sacks.
Between now and November 27’s next matchup, though, the Lions will have ample time to figure out their messiness and make moves to improve their roster, which could lead to the Packers facing a more formidable opponent when they clash again.
The Packers are also dealing with a crowded injury report in just the second week of the season, with eight starters listed on the report in some capacity. Optimistically, things should look better by late November, but the Packers could have a tougher time stifling the Lions in the rematch if they take even more injury hits and lose key contributors.
Browns Settle Week 2 Kicker Decision - Kevin Stefanski Confirms
Despite missing two kicks in their loss against the Bengals, head coach Kevin Stefanski says Andre Szmyt will be the starter.
The Cleveland Browns came out of Week 1 with a 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but things could have been different if they had made a few more of their kicks. That's where Andre Szmyt comes in, as the kicker missed an extra point and a field goal in the loss.
With that kind of loss, some teams look to make changes at the position, and after the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski said he wasn't there yet when it came to bringing in competition.
“I’m not there,” Stefanski said. “You know, like most type of things. You know, points are at premium obviously. So that’s frustrating. Andre’s had a really good camp. He’s done a nice job for us. So I’m not there.”
Well, Stefanski doubled down on that notion days later and confirmed that Szmyt will be the kicker for Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson.
“Just like any young player, he'll continue to get better,” Stefanski said.
Szmyt has the opportunity to turn the narrative around in Week 2, and Stefanski seems to believe in him doing so. If Szmyt doesn't take advantage of his chance then, it would not be a surprise to see the team bring in some competition. Football is a game of inches, and a field goal can change a lot when it comes to a win or a loss.
One thing that seems positive about Szmyt is that he knows his mistakes, and he spoke about them after the loss.
“I got to do better and I expect better out of myself,” Szmyt said. “Just try and forget about it and move on to next week.”
What's even better is that his teammates had his back.
“[T]hese guys are here for me,” Szmyt said. “I know I have to do my job and I’m going to do it the next time.”
Now, Szmyt has to go out and put the work in.
