Packers Periscope: Packers vs. Broncos
Let's raise up the Packers Periscope and look at the past, present and future of the Packers and Broncos.
By Tony_Wilson
FINALLY the Bye Week has ended. I know the players absolutely appreciate it, and this team absolutely needed it, but I hate Sundays without the Packers. At 2-3 and the offense with another stinker going into the aforementioned Bye, the Green and Gold head to Denver Sunday for a matchup with one of the current worst teams and most unlikeable coaches in football, the Denver Broncos.
So given the elevation, let's raise our periscope a touch higher this week to take a look at the past, present and future of the Packers and the Broncos.
The Past
Oddly enough, the all-time Broncos - Packers series is tied at 7-7-1. The most recent matchup was a 27-16 Packers victory (coincidentally, the last time I was present at Lambeau Field!) against a Joe Flacco-led Denver team. The time before that, a 29-10 beat-down by Peyton Manning Broncos and their stout defense in 2015. The most notable all-time, unfortunately, is Super Bowl XXXII, where the heavily favored Packers and Brett Favre fell in a doozy to John Elway's Broncos, complete with the famous helicopter dive by Elway late in that game. Fun fact, 13-year-old me cried the first of a few Packers-generated tears that night.
However, I refuse to delve into a loss in this column. Instead, let's go back to October 29, 2007 on Monday Night Football. The 5-1 Packers were riding high off an unexpected start, with legend Brett Favre finding his magic again with second-year coach Mike McCarthy. Green Bay got the points going on a 79-yard touchdown to the hoodie himself, James Jones. Denver came back 13 seconds later on a Jay Cutler-to-Tony Scheffler connection from 5 yards out and it was 7-7. Two Mason Crosby field goals gave the Pack a 13-7 halftime lead.
The second half was a defensive struggle. Denver kept Green Bay off the scoreboard, but two Jason Elam field goals in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to even the score at the end of regulation. Winning the toss in overtime, the Packers got the ball first. Starting from their own 18, Favre faked the handoff to Ryan Grant and then...
What a moment - a true Favre all-timer. It felt at the time everything was going right for that team. Favre broke Marino's record, the team was 6-1, and it seemed like they had all the magic going. This was a really fun moment as the team gained momentum in that 2007 season.
The Present
Currently, 2023 has a slog for both teams, one of which with much higher expectations than the Packers. Last season, after trading for Russell Wilson after (allegedly) failing to pull Aaron Rodgers, the Broncos fired then-coach Nathaniel Hackett mid-season after a woeful start. To right the ship, the Broncos landed high-profile former Saints coach Sean Payton, who now-famously publicly criticized Hackett. My, how the turntables. Payton and the Broncos are a bit of a laughingstock, starting off 1-5 including a shocking 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
What's most surprising about the start isn't so much that Wilson is struggling yet again in Denver, but the defense that has been a stalwart for the last few seasons in Denver is one of the worst the league has ever seen, at least through five weeks. Running, passing, it doesn't matter - the Broncos have been a sieve. That is, until, a visit to Kansas City, where they held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to a mere 19 points in a 19-8 loss last week.
Meanwhile, the Packers took advantage of the bye week to get healthy and figure out what's up with the offense. While this section is on the present, the near past of the Packers offense was yet another brutal offensive showing in Las Vegas. However, it does seem that Aaron Jones should finally be healthy enough to get back to his Week 1 self, so per usual, we'll need to monitor the injury report to see the capacity in which he practices this week. Also, it'll be interesting to see what, if anything, Matt LaFleur and Adam Stenavich do with the offensive line. It's been a clear weak point, so we'll finally see what the self scouting may have uncovered.
The Future
It feels like it's been an eternity, but the Packers are back playing on a Sunday. Empower Field at Mile High (dumb name), 3:25 Lambeau time. You can feel the pressure mounting for each of these teams. On paper, it seems winnable for each side. The Packers are heading to the higher elevation, Denver's defense feeling a bit better after playing well in KC. Green Bay, on the other hand, has the much better defensive unit -- but can the offense finally make some strides, namely in the first half?
With only 6 first half points in what feels like a decade (ok, only a few weeks, but who's counting?), there is a lot of pressure on LaFleur and Jordan Love to figure something out. The running game has been anemic and Love struggled protecting the football. They'll need to play much cleaner as a whole this week and maybe focus some plays on their talented receivers to get them in space. Jayden Reed, namely, was a total afterthought in Vegas. He's too dangerous in the slot to be ignored like that again.
This game will be a test of how much LaFleur learned self-scouting over the bye. With Denver on the edge of falling off a cliff, can he provide enough to push Denver off and, for all intents and purposes, end their season and right the Packers' ship?
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Tony Wilson takes pride in journalism training from 2/3 of directional-Michigan MAC schools. A former Sporting News writer, Tony now focuses on the Packers from his home in Toledo, OH. His beer of choice is a Miller Lite from the bottom of the cooler. You can find him on Twitter @TonePackTone.
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Comments (20)
TarynsEyes
October 18, 2023 at 12:42 pm
"This game will be a test of how much LaFleur learned self-scouting over the bye"
This game will be more about what Payton and Wilson can come to agreement on than what MLF's already proven inability to self-scout and correct.
I cannot help but again go back to my matchups of HC/QB, and give the lean to Denver. Wilson is playing poorly in some eyes, but It's still way better than Love. As for HC, Payton may not be what he was in NO, but he's still better than MLF. Payton has no reason to look ahead to KC next week, as their season is over. The Packers might be looking a head, thinking Denver an easy win.
BruceC1960
October 18, 2023 at 04:50 pm
I’m not convinced Denver isn’t tanking for a QB. They seem lifeless. Maybe 2 teams without a pulse Sunday?
TarynsEyes
October 18, 2023 at 11:15 pm
They had life in KC, and perhaps use GB as a step to more life for the KC rematch next week in Denver.
barutanseijin
October 18, 2023 at 08:51 pm
A bit reductive to make the contest into a 2 on 2 . Besides,
Sean Payton has done no more with this lousy Broncos team than Hackett. He’s not magic. As for Russ, he’s always been prone to bone head plays. Now he holds on to the ball too long, but doesn’t have the wheels he used to. He often plays down to the level of a Justin Fields (whom you also predicted would be too much for Love).
If you want to give reasons why the Packers might lose, it’s easy enough say the Packers are a young team on the road with a coach who hasn’t always done well preparing his team for road games.
TarynsEyes
October 18, 2023 at 11:10 pm
The youth reason is now more an excuse for a HC who has shown he is not the reason for the previous success bestowed upon him. I won't deprive him of some credit, but not as much as others have.
Payton took on a horrible situation in Denver, and that cannot be denied. The Hackett statement was deplorable, and I believe he regrets it, especially having to deal with it himself first hand.
Wilson is still playing better than Love, and Fields before getting hurt, has shown more than Love also, less, week one when the Bears were a total disaster. I believe a different result would happen if played today, based on what Love and team have shown.
I don't believe I predicted Fields better than Love week one, I said Fields gets the edge because of having more starts.
Tundraboy
October 18, 2023 at 09:30 pm
"Payton may not be what he was in NO, but he's still better than MLF"
And that's what's most worrisome. And on top of that he aready had to endure the Hackett comment backlash. The indignity losing to MLF at his lowest...
TarynsEyes
October 18, 2023 at 11:14 pm
I think Payton has suffered enough indignity from the Hackett issue, and I think he sees GB as usable to start reclaiming some back. We shall see either way. I just want the Packers to at least begin to look like a tea that is learning and growing, win or lose.
mnbadger
October 18, 2023 at 01:00 pm
Taryn, thank you for letting me look through your eyes on this subject.
I think you see things with the same clarity I do.
When I hear other HC's talk about self-scouting, I know it will result in changes.
When our HC self scouts, it's as if it confirms that he thinks what he's doing is good and doesn't change a thing!
this organization made a mistake when it hired mlf
If we lose this week, to this team, we need to stop digging the hole deeper and move on.
Pack 26 - russell wilson's pool 23.
GPG!
ricky
October 18, 2023 at 01:23 pm
This game will tell us a lot about the coaching staff, and the way the rest of the year will probably play out. If the team comes out with a new attitude, fired up, firing on all cylinders, and playing four quarters of quality football.... OK, that is all a dream. Back to reality. The LaFleur Packers have always looked flat coming out of a bye. The coaching staff seems to have no new ideas as to how to change things up and make the offense (or defense) functional. And this team hasn't played an entire, quality game for some time. I have lost faith in this coaching staff to motivate the players; make adjustments during a game; or make sure their best players are on the field. This is probably going to be another low scoring slog of a game, with the outcome being decided by a late drive FG.
coolhand
October 18, 2023 at 02:19 pm
I agree on MLF ricky. He promised changes after the drubbing by the Lions, and what happened? The only change was Jenkins in for Newman, but that was already planned. They had plenty of time then to make changes yet played even worse. No creativity in the run game, just dillon up the middle. A bad LV defense and our offense was pathetic. NOW, they have even more time to make changes, so we shall see.
barutanseijin
October 18, 2023 at 08:57 pm
AJ Dillon up the middle beats AJ Dillon trying to get outside. Especially when your LT is a turnstile. You can have Bill Walsh calling plays but if your OL doesn’t block, it won’t change a thing.
Packerpasty
October 18, 2023 at 05:12 pm
they look flat every week in the first quarter sometimes the whole first half...lip service from MLF on getting it fixed but nothing new ever happens..
13TimeChamps
October 18, 2023 at 02:03 pm
I posted this last week, but it bears repeating. GB had a mini-bye to prepare for the Raiders game, and now a full bye to prepare for the Broncos game. Two of the worst teams currently in the league. I truly believe this is a defining moment/test for LaFleur and his preparedness. Let's see how he responds.
"@Raiders and @Broncos were going to be the easiest back to back games on the schedule.
Two dysfunctional teams going nowhere this year. Even taking into consideration that this was going to be a year of growing pains, losing to both of these teams right after the embarrassing performance against Detroit at home might be too much for this young team to come back from.
I hope I'm wrong, and there still is time to turn things around. But if they come out looking flat, disorganized and unmotivated against a really bad Denver team...well, I'll just leave it there for the time being."
Packerpasty
October 18, 2023 at 05:14 pm
well a loss to Denver would confirm that the Packers share the "worst team in the league" with the Raiders and Denver...Denver is probably looking forward to finally playing a soft team and putting a "W" on the board...
dobber
October 18, 2023 at 03:36 pm
This game is setting up an awful lot like the Vegas game. Two teams needing a "get right" game with the Packers coming off an elongated break from their previous game, an uninspiring loss. People point to an "historically bad Denver defense" but it's the Miami game blowing most of those analytics way up. Absent that game, the Denver D is really not meaningfully different from the Vegas D was two weeks ago in their metrics, with the KC game (between two teams that see each other a lot) pointing to the "beware" category.
"Meanwhile, the Packers took advantage of the bye week to get healthy and figure out what's up with the offense."
We're taking a lot for granted with that statement. Sure, they're likely to be healthier, but their ability to assess and right the ship with the offense is really what's on trial this week.
TXCHEESE
October 18, 2023 at 04:00 pm
Putting on my Captain Obvious cape here. Until GB can prominently employ Aaron Jones in this offense, it will struggle mightily. Dillon may be a nice guy and even a decent change of pace guy, but he won't ever be able to do the things to stress defenses the way Jones can. If Jones is back and the OL can find some consistency, Love should have better looks in the passing game and hopefully find a groove early.
The defense needs to take the fight to Denver early and often and get them on their heels. If that happens Wilson will gift them with a few bone headed throws to take advantage of.
Tundraboy
October 18, 2023 at 08:20 pm
I'm not sure how I feel this week. an odd mix of calm and total anxiety. My gut tells me it's either we lose again, in humiliating fashion, Yes we are ripe to be a get well game for Payton, Or we come out on fire with a statement to make on O with everything clicking. Strangely the calm comes from knowing that either way, we will know what this coaching staff is made of.
joejetson
October 18, 2023 at 08:25 pm
LeFleur has now had two back to back bye weeks. He had eleven days to prepare for the Raiders. Nothing new, same poor offensive line performance. No dynamic improvement in running or pass protection. Now he has two more weeks to solve the same festering problems. We'll find out if LeFleur has any solutions or if he's just in way over his head.
Starrbrite
October 18, 2023 at 08:45 pm
Said it many times—I despise the donkeys.
I lived in Denver for several years—loved Denver—hated the Broncos. I’m still living in bronco country here in western SD and
a loss to the Broncos would be similar to being water-boarded.
Fact is, I’m seriously afraid we lose. We have the talent, but our coaching makes me nervous.
I posted earlier I will do a darkness retreat if we lose.
C’mon Packers—WIN!! This is my SB.
Go Packers!!!
Packers1985
October 19, 2023 at 12:27 pm
This week vs the 1 win broncos plus the JJ less vikings are pretty much winnable. If we loose oh boy then time for change after the season.