For two weeks, in losses to the Eagles and Panthers, the numbers on Packers star Micah Parsons were less than impressive. He notched five total tackles in those games, and though the defense was hardly to blame–the Packers allowed just 26 total points in two weeks–Parsons didn’t have a huge impact on either outcome. He had zero sacks, and just five total tackles.
Parsons cautioned, though, that the numbers would come. And they started to in Week 11, when Parsons recorded 1.5 sacks against the Giants. That continued into Sunday’s dominant 23-6 win over the Vikings, in which Parsons had just two tackles, both of which were sacks, but still managed to terrorize Minnesota and rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy.
Parsons had four pressures, and freed up fellow defenders likes linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (nine tackles and in interception) and lineman Devonte Wyatt (2.0 sacks) for big days, too.
Micah Parsons Gets to 10 Sacks, Again
But Parsons also hit a personal milestone, as he racked up his 10th sack of the season. That puts him at double-digit sacks in each of the first five years of his career, making him only the second player in NFL history to accomplish that feat since the league began recording sacks in 1982. The only other player to do so was former Packers star Reggie White.
Parsons was happy to hit the threshold, but said it is his expectation each season to surpass 10 sacks.
“You always should be appreciative,” Parsons said. “It’s such a difficult feat. I wouldn’t say it’s like a feat where it’s very easy or anything like that. It’s a standard of play. Like, me and CeeDee Lamb used to say, ‘1,000 yards is the minimum.’ So I feel like 10 sacks, for the standard of player you are, that should be the minimum you should get. And for me, mine was always 10 sacks. So, I am beating him right now.”
Packers Need to Make Opponents Throw
With a grade of 91.8 on the season, Parsons is the No. 2 rated pass-rusher in the NFL, behind only Browns pass-rusher and season sack leader Myles Garrett. Parsons is on pace for 15.5 sacks, which would break his personal best of 14.0, which he logged for 2023 while in Dallas.
Parsons said one of the keys to him racking up bigger pass-rush numbers is getting opponents to … well, pass more. That is more likely to happen when the offense is putting up good numbers and forcing opponents to run faster-paced offenses. That wasn’t happening against the Panthers and Eagles, who were able to focus on hitting the Packers with the run.
“If I can pass rush, I can affect the game,” Parsons said. “That’s all this comes down to. Teams are just going to run the ball, they’re trying to minimize the game, because guess what? We’re a really good defense. But we have to find ways to stop the run and work as a team to put teams in a position where they (have to) pass the ball.”
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