Could This Week’s Broncos-Packers Showdown in Denver Be A Preview of Super Bowl 50?
Maybe it’s a little too early to talk Super Bowl 50, but the Green Bay Packers are making a strong case as to why they should be the NFC representative this year. At 6-0 Aaron Rodgers and Co. have torched the opposition through the first seven weeks of play, laying waste to struggling teams like the Bears, Chiefs, 49ers and Chargers. Along with the Panthers, they are the only team still unbeaten in the conference.
The competition will increase over the next two weeks, however, as two seminal games come on the road against the Broncos and Panthers. Both teams have been flawless this season and lead their respective divisions at 6-0. And the way things are gelling for both the Packers and Broncos, this Sunday’s game could be an early look into the February 7 game at Levi’s Stadium.
Though still more than three months away, ticket prices for Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara are already reaching new highs on the secondary market. According to international ticket reseller Ticketbis.com, fans perusing the market for the best deals will find the cheapest tickets listed for over $5,000. The get-in price for Super Bowl tickets on Ticketbis is currently $5,222.81 – nearly $2,000 more expensive than last year’s $3,379 get-in price at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Sure, plenty of football is still left to play before two teams punch their ticket to the NFL’s biggest stage, but there will certainly be a playoff-like atmosphere in Denver this weekend when the Broncos host the Packers in a Sunday Night Football showdown. Expect to pay big just to get into Sports Authority Field, too, as the cheapest ticket to Sunday’s game is now $364 on the secondary market.
This week will mark the first time in NFL history that five teams remain unbeaten entering Week 8. Aaron Rodgers has spearheaded the Packers to a perfect start, throwing 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions while working around the lack of production from running back Eddie Lacy. Peyton Manning hasn’t been anywhere near as efficient as Rodgers, posting the worst QBR of his career at 46.4 with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions, but the Broncos sit comfortably atop the AFC West and will likely cruise to take the division over the second place 3-3 Raiders.
The two teams last met at Lambeau Field in 2011, when the defending Super Bowl champion Packers took a convincing 49-23 win over a Broncos team led by quarterback Kyle Orton. Rodgers and Manning have played each just once in their illustrious careers. That game came in 2008, where the Packers routed the Colts, 34-14, in Rodgers’ first full season starting under center.
Comments (14)
Bearmeat
October 30, 2015 at 07:24 pm
This is not a super bowl preview unless Denver can start to run the ball and Pey Pey starts throwing even average. Not likely.
It's the pats and GB.
4thand1
October 30, 2015 at 08:44 pm
No way the rest of the AFC gets by N.E., unless Brady gets hurt.
AZPack
October 30, 2015 at 07:50 pm
This is no SB preview. The Denver D can and will make them a playoff team, but w/o a competent QB, which Manning is not, the SB will continue to be a pipedream. Manning is worse than even average or competent at this point and will only get worse as the season progresses.
Lphill
October 30, 2015 at 07:51 pm
Some points of concern , Rodgers has a losing record against AFC teams and Manning never lost to a NFC team in Denver, But there's always a first I guess.
chugwater
October 30, 2015 at 08:29 pm
W-L is not a QB stat...We play 4 AFC teams a year and are 2-0 so far. Not really concerned about that one.
FITZCORE1252
October 30, 2015 at 08:41 pm
100% irrelevant.
4thand1
October 30, 2015 at 08:45 pm
But Manning is playing a rookie Eli.
chugwater
October 30, 2015 at 08:34 pm
Someone needs to show me a team who can beat New England. Cincy is intriguing but needs to prove it given their inability to produce in the playoffs.
Oakland reminds me of Minnesota - a young ascending team with solid coaches. Just need some experience to round them out.
FITZCORE1252
October 30, 2015 at 08:47 pm
Idk. I watched last night, Miami looked like a team that had to play on 3 days rest, away. It was 9-0 for quite awhile, NE didn't do much, then the floodgates opened up. I think a better team could've capitalized.
Don't get me wrong, the Pats look good, but I'm not sold on that D, and aside from the O line, i think they have been relatively healthy. If 2011 taught me anything, it's that a team can absolutely peak to early. Pats may, they may not, but i know for us, that doesn't look like it will be a problem.
chugwater
October 30, 2015 at 09:23 pm
It was over at half time when NE was up 19-0 at home.
The NFL is weird this year. There are about 8-10 teams with solid winning records and the rest are just dreadful. Some divisions have weak teams from top to bottom (I'm looking at you AFC South and NFC East).
NE can be beat with a balanced team who is good on both sides of the ball. GB, CAR, ARZ come to mind. CIN is the only one in the AFC. I agree we'll have to see who gets hot in the second half of the season. Whole lotta football left.
Don't know if I'd bet against Brady. The dude is surgical. Edelman and Amendola are so shifty. Gronk is a big target. The D isn't great, but like GB their D only has to crack the top ten. It's much easier to be good when playing with the lead all of the time.
D Ernesto
October 30, 2015 at 09:55 pm
It was over on opening kickoff. The jets have nothing
D Ernesto
October 30, 2015 at 09:53 pm
Short answer, no for the packers
Horse
October 30, 2015 at 10:38 pm
I don't care what happens at Mile High as long as GB doesn't incur more major-mid injuries. The Panthers are NFC and we get them next week. Away.
Since'61
October 31, 2015 at 11:03 am
I don't see this game between the Packers and Broncos as an SB preview, except as a preview of the Packers of course. I don't think that the Broncos will make it past either NE or the Bengals in the playoffs. As of today the Bengals look like the best of the AFC. In any case Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since '61