Packers: Look Ahead To The Denver Broncos

It’s Saturday, which means that Sunday night we will get to see a meeting of two of the NFL’s best defenses going out at it and fighting tooth and hail for a win … wait, we’re sure this is a Green Bay Packers game?

As crazy as it sounds, yes! The Packers are headed to Denver to face the Broncos on Sunday Night Football, and as odd as it sounds (for both teams), defense will be the reason one team wins and the other loses. Let’s take a look at the Broncos to see why.

Who Are They? 

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The Denver Broncos (6-0) are coming fresh off a bye week as well, and looking to knock off one of the unbeaten teams in the league. Boasting what is arguably the best defense in the NFL, Denver is no slouch, and especially not when you have to play them at home during primetime.

Defensively, the team is fairly stacked. Chris Harris and Aqib Talib head up a fierce secondary, and guys like Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware are constant threats on the defensive line. On the other side of the ball, you don’t need many introductions. Peyton Manning, Emmanuel Sanders, and Demaryius Thomas are still huge threats to any defense.

What’s odd, however, is the play of the offense.

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If it weren’t for the defense, actually, the Broncos wouldn’t be 6-0, and would probably be struggling to hit 3-3. Manning hasn’t played like his usual self, and while it’s easy to blame Father Time (and that’s most likely the reason), it’ll be interesting to see how he does.

What to watch for: 

As stated earlier, this game is going to be a surprisingly good matchup of two defenses that have been playing well to start out the year. The Packers are currently the league’s top scoring defense (16.8 PPG) followed by, you guessed it, Denver (17.0 PPG). Green Bay is tied for second in sacks, while Denver leads the league.

Needless to say, offensive lines are going to have a tough time Sunday night.

Sadly, history isn’t on Green Bay’s side. In their last eight road games against teams that finished with winning records, the Packers are a paltry 0-8. Obviously, this time might be a bit different, with the defensive side of the ball playing so well. The question, however, is if the offense can match it. Lately, Green Bay’s prolific offense has looked anything but.

However, as he normally does, Aaron Rodgers has found a way to overcome all of that and continue to put points up on the board. 

It might be shocking, but going into the game, it seems like whatever quarterback gets into a rhythm first could lead their team to a victory. Don’t expect this to be the shootout many would have anticipated at the beginning of the year.

While Rodgers has continued to be great during the first six weeks of the season, the team’s offense has been boosted (surprisingly) by the running game. Even with Eddie Lacy strangely unproductive, James Starks has done wonders with the ball, and with Lacy no longer on the injury report with his ankle, it might be time for Lacy to get back into his groove.

If the Broncos defense can stop either of the two backs, it could prove troublesome for Green Bay.

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From early reports, it seems like wide receiver Davante Adams will finally make his return to the field, and it seems like it can’t come at a better time.

With an extremely talented secondary to go up against, Green Bay is going to need all the help it can get, and with Adams coming back, it will not only give Rodgers back a weapon he needs, but also space out the field and take some eyes away from Randall Cobb.

Keys to Victory: 

They key to victory for the Broncos is, as it is every week when going against Green Bay, to create pressure on Aaron Rodgers and try to turn the ball over. The Broncos defensive line is extremely talented, and certainly have the pieces to do that, but Green Bay is very stingy with the ball, and it might be hard for them to take it away from Rodgers.

For Green Bay, it’s pretty simple. The defense has to show up the way they have been. Manning currently leads the league in interceptions, and if Green Bay can get a takeaway or two, it could be the deciding factor if Rodgers doesn’t give it up.

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Prediction: Green Bay 27, Denver 24