2. Like Lazard, TE Robert Tonyan got more involved in the passing game, too.
Tonyan caught four passes for 63 yards and a touchdown, a 20-yarder early in the third quarter that finished a double up on either side of halftime for a 21-7 advantage.
The defense generated a turnover on Washington’s opening drive of the second half, giving the offense the ball in great field position to duplicate the TD that ended the first half.
Linebacker Rashan Gary hit Washington QB Taylor Heinicke from behind, knocking the ball out, and defensive lineman Dean Lowry recovered. It was one of two sacks on the day for Gary, who along with inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell led a spirited defensive effort with numerous highlights.
3. The defense’s first red-zone stop of the season was a huge one.
Down 21-7, Washington tried to answer quickly, driving the length of the field, but a replay review took away Heinicke’s scramble for a touchdown and put the ball inside the 1-yard line.
Washington went for it on fourth-and-goal. Gary said Green Bay’s entire defensive front was playing for the QB sneak, and Campbell managed to knock the ball loose from Heinicke. He tried to regain control and use a second effort to reach the ball across the goal line, but he was ruled down.
Washington challenged the ruling to no avail.
“That was a tough call either way,” LaFleur said.
After allowing the opponent to score a touchdown on all 15 trips inside the red zone in the season’s first six games, Green Bay’s defense had a big-time stop.
