Live Updates: Packers at Broncos in NFL Week 7
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers, coming off their bye week, will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Can the Packers snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 3-3? Follow along all day for updates.
Final Score
Broncos 19, Packers 17
Here is our quick game story as the Packers lost their third consecutive game and fell to 2-4.
Facing the worst defense in the NFL, the Packers failed to reach 100 yards until the final play of the first half, failed to score until early in the third quarter and failed to get into the end zone until late in the third quarter. And with a chance to win they game, they threw an interception.
Fourth Quarter
Broncos 19, Packers 17 (1:40 remaining)
On third-and-20, Jordan Love chucked one deep to Samori Toure but safety P.J. Locke ranged over from center field for an easy interception. A checkdown to AJ Dillon gained 29, with Dillon breaking a tackle to pick up about 25 additional yards. However, Elgton Jenkins was called for holding on a quarterback draw, Christian Watson was injured on a second-down incompletion and Love’s deep shot had far too much hang time.
Broncos 19, Packers 17 (3:50 remaining)
Jordan Love had to rally the Packers at Atlanta and lost. He had to rally the Packers at Las Vegas and lost. Can he rally the Packers to a road win vs. the Broncos? Will Lutz’s 52-yard field goal gave the Broncos a two-point lead. Preston Smith’s ankle-grabbing sack of Russell Wilson on third down was huge.
Injury update: TE Luke Musgrave, having been evaluated for a concussion, will return for what could be the final drive.
Packers 17, Broncos 16 (8:31 remaining)
The Packers took the lead on a crazy fourth-and-2 conversion. Jordan Love tried to whistle a quick slant to Romeo Doubs but Jonathon Cooper was in the passing lane. Love double-clutched it to Doubs, anyway. The ball went through Doubs’ hands and right to rookie Jayden Reed, who was engaged with safety Ja’Quan McMillian for a 4-yard touchdown.
Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was ejected for blasting Packers tight end Luke Musgrave at the end of an 18-yard catch. Jackson had been fined four times for illegal hits this season. The cumulative gain of 33 yards moved the ball to Denver’s 38. The next first down came on a fourth-and-1 bootleg to tight end Ben Sims for a gain of 2. On the next play, guard Jon Runyan and tight end Josiah Deguara created a huge void for AJ Dillon to rumble for 12.
Third Quarter
Broncos 16, Packers 10 (0:00 remaining)
On third-and-3, Rashan Gary buried Javonte Williams to force a three-and-out punt.
Broncos 16, Packers 10 (1:46 remaining)
Jordan Love stepped up in the pocket and floated one up to Romeo Doubs, who was given the win in a wrestling match for the football with All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain. The 16-yard play made it a one score game. Defensive holding on Surtain gave the Packers a first down on third-and-5 and Jayden Reed got open on an out for a gain of 12 on third-and-7.
CBS officiating expert Gene Steratore, who was a referee from 2006 through 2017, thought it should have been ruled an interception.
Broncos 16, Packers 3 (6:17 remaining)
The teams were a combined 0-for-4 in the red zone before the Broncos broke through on Russell Wilson’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton, who was wide open up the right sideline. Cornerback Rasul Douglas was in coverage and was furious at either miscommunication in the secondary or the officiating for allowing one of Denver’s receivers to plow through coverage.
The Packers have missed 12 tackles. Denver has gutted Green Bay’s run defense for 123 yards.
Injury update: C Josh Myers is back for the Packers.
Broncos 9, Packers 3 (10:24 remaining)
The Packers got on the scoreboard on Anders Carlson’s 29-yard field goal. Jordan Love hit Dontayvion Wicks for 17 on third-and-4 and scrambled for 9 on third-and-6. One play later, Love threw a backward pass to Wicks, who threw the ball across the field to Aaron Jones for 14. The drive stalled, with Love’s third-and-4 pass to Romeo Doubs not having a prayer of being completed.
Second Quarter
Broncos 9, Packers 0 (Halftime)
Will Lutz kicked a 35-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining in the first half. Quarterback Russell Wilson evaded tackle attempts by Colby Wooden and Keisean Nixon on a 22-yard scramble. By our count, the Packers have missed nine tackles.
Green Bay went into intermission trailing 209-100 in yards and 12-6 in first downs. Remember, the Broncos have the worst defense in the NFL but Jordan Love is 10-of-13 for a feeble 47 yards. That is 3.6 yards per attempt, though it might seem like 3.6 inches.
The good news is Denver has a 10-game losing streak when winning at halftime.
The bad news is Green Bay has been outscored 63-6 in the first half of the last four games.
Injury updates: DT Devonte Wyatt (knee), S Darnell Savage (calf) and CB Eric Stokes (hamstring) are out. Jonathan Owens figures to replace Savage and safety. Rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks will get more snaps without Wyatt.
Broncos 6, Packers 0 (41 seconds remaining)
Rookie kicker Anders Carlson was bound to miss a kick at some point. It was a big one, with the 43-yarder pulled to the left and giving Denver a chance to take a two-score lead into halftime.
It only took until about 6 1/2 minutes remaining in the half for the offense to put something together. Aaron Jones’ speed is irreplaceable. On third-and-1, he was doomed in the backfield for minus-5. Instead, he hit an extra gear, ran through an ankle tackle and gained 6. A receiver screen to Romeo Doubs gained 14, the biggest passing play of the game made possible by right tackle Zach Tom’s pancake block. Later, on third-and-1, Jones was alone in the flat for 3 yards and a first down. A false start by left tackle Rasheed Walker turned third-and-4 into third-and-9.
Injury update: WR Jayden Reed (shin) is questionable.
Broncos 6, Packers 0 (6:31 remaining)
The Packers forced a second-and-31 after Green Bay blew up an end-around to rocket-fast receiver Marvin Mims – Kingsley Enagbare missed the tackle but gets credit for ruining the play – and Colby Wooden drew a holding penalty. The Packers managed to force a punt, but not before safety Darnell Savage aggravated a calf injury sustained two weeks earlier against Las Vegas.
Injury updates: Savage (calf) and CB Eric Stokes (hamstring) are questionable, as well, his return to the lineup perhaps having a quick end. The problem here is Stokes was the next man up at corner. The Packers don’t have anyone else behind Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine.
Broncos 6, Packers 0 (9:44 remaining)
Green Bay’s offense has been typically terrible. On third-and-4, Jordan Love looked right and found receiver Christian Watson and Jayden Reed stationed next to each other, which probably wasn’t how the play was drawn up.
It’s 142-34 in yards and 8-2 in first downs. Love is 6-of-9 for 21 yards.
Broncos 6, Packers 0 (13:14 remaining)
Will Lutz kicked a 29-yard field goal but the Packers got a key third-down stop to limit the damage. On third-and-7 from the 10, Preston Smith not only applied pressure on Russell Wilson but kept him in the pocket to force a throwaway. On third-and-5 from the 24, the Packers blitzed linebacker Isaiah McDuffie. That left the middle of the field open, with Courtland Sutton running a slant right into that spot against Carrington Valentine for a gain of 11.
The Packers’ tackling has been brutal. On a 12-yard run by Javonte Williams, Brenton Cox missed a tackle near the line of scrimmage; Darnell Savage might have saved a touchdown. On a 19-yard pass to Samaje Perine, Quay Walker missed a tackle that resulted in 17 additional yards. That gave Green Bay six misses through 17 minutes.
Denver has 142 yards; Green Bay has 24.
Injury update: DT Devonte Wyatt (knee) is questionable; he was carted to the locker room. Wyatt was questionable on the injury report with a knee injury before the game.
Rashan Gary pressures Russell Wilson.
Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports Images
First Quarter
Broncos 3, Packers 0 (2:31 remaining)
The Packers picked up one first down on a completion to tight end Luke Musgrave, but the drive stalled. On third-and-7, Jordan Love took a deep shot to receiver Jayden Reed against cornerback Patrick Surtain and safety Kareem Jackson. Denver declined a facemask against left tackle Rasheed Walker, so coach Matt LaFleur kept the offense on the field for fourth-and-7. However, center Josh Myers was flagged for a false start – LaFleur was irate at the officials – and the Packers punted.
Broncos 3, Packers 0 (5:15 remaining)
Denver drove 11 plays to the opening field goal but Green Bay’s defense was much better on the second series. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark’s penetration might have ruined a first-down screen, linebacker Quay Walker destroyed a second-down run and Russell Wilson checked it down on third-and-11.
By our count, the Packers have missed four tackles already. That’s bad. The good? On third-and-11, safety Darnell Savage missed the tackle but defensive tackle Karl Brooks was right there to finish off receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Broncos 3, Packers 0 (6:48 remaining)
The Packers won’t win if they don’t block better. On second-and-6, defensive tackle D.J. Jones crushed Aaron Jones. On third-and-7, Zach Allen was right on Jordan Love’s face on a checkdown.
Broncos 3, Packers 0 (8:27 remaining)
The Packers had a shot at a three-and-out. Instead, Russell Wilson hit Courtland Sutton for 37 yards on a deep shot against rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine. The Broncos drove with ease the rest of the field, with Javonte Williams scoring on third-and-1. Instead, Quinn Bailey was flagged for holding – he tackled linebacker Quay Walker – and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt blew up a screen. Will Lutz booted a 32-yard field goal.
With Jaire Alexander inactive, Valentine got the start at cornerback. With De’Vondre Campbell inactive, Isaiah McDuffie got the start at linebacker.
Pregame in Denver
Photo by Jacob Westendorf/USA Today Sports Images
Are the Broncos Really That Bad?
The Broncos are last in the NFL in points allowed, point differential, opponent completion percentage, opponent passer rating, passing yards allowed per game and per play, rushing yards allowed per play.
Otherwise, the Broncos are cruising.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur – perhaps because his team is scuffling – isn’t buying into Denver’s weakness. Rather, it’s a byproduct of a 70-20 loss to the powerhouse Dolphins. Instead, LaFleur thought the 19 points the Broncos allowed to the Chiefs is more indicative of Sunday’s opponent.
“I think that you’re looking an anomaly there. That was one really bad game,” LaFleur said. “I don’t know if you guys have watched any football around the league but Miami’s kind of doing that to everybody. That’s a really good offense with a ton of speed. If you’re not on top of your game, they can make you look silly. They just have way too much speed out there.
“That’s kind of what happened: There was a lot of big plays in that game and they got loose. When you’re watching the game, especially early on, it wasn’t like crazy. It got out of hand as the game went on. I think that, again, was one game. If you look at Week 1 vs. the Raiders, they held them under 300 yards. You’re only as good as your last performance and I think their last performance against the Chiefs was pretty solid defensively.”
Mile High Altitude
The Broncos should have a superior homefield advantage thanks to their diehard fans and the Mile High altitude.
However, the Broncos are 0-3 at home this season, with losses to the Raiders, Commanders and Jets – not exactly powerhouses.
“I just told them I am tired of sitting at the podium and talking to you guys about not playing well at home,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “Yeah, it’s time. We have a good home field [advantage]. We have a great tradition at home, crowd noise, and all those things that can help us. We need to take advantage of it.”
The Packers have almost no experience of playing at altitude. Quarterback Jordan Love did at Utah State. Coach Matt LaFleur has one game of experience. Some free-agent additions, such as cornerback/returner Keisean Nixon, have played in Denver, as well.
“It’s just something that you’ve got to be mentally strong and know that breathing’s going to be a little bit different,” Love said. “Obviously, the ball might come out a little bit different. I don’t think I ever had any problems throwing the ball with it, but I think it’s mostly just breathing. Your legs get a little heavier. You’ve just got to have that mental toughness to be able to fight through it.”
Packers-Broncos Inactives
The good news: Aaron Jones and Elgton Jenkins will play. The bad news: Jaire Alexander is out again after his back flared up this week.
Denver is at full strength in terms of its key players.
Packers-Broncos Rankings
Packers: Green Bay on offense ranks 13th in points per game (22.6), 22nd in passing per play (6.17) and 25th in rushing per play (3.52). On defense, it ranks 22nd in points per game (22.6), ninth in passing per play (6.00) and 20th in rushing per play (4.27). Green Bay is 26th in yardage differential (minus-56.2) and minus-1 in turnovers.
Broncos: Denver on offense ranks 17th in points per game (21.5), 15th in passing per play (6.50) and fourth in rushing per play (4.93). On defense, it ranks 32nd in points per game (33.3), 32nd in passing per play (8.25) and 32nd in rushing per play (5.59). Denver has been outgained by 134.0 yards per game, worst in the league, and is minus-5 in turnovers.
In the power rankings: At Sports Illustrated, the Packers are 21st and the Broncos are 30th.
More Green Bay Packers News
The surprising truth on Packers’ injuries
Packers at Broncos: Only two starters inactive
