Packers-Broncos: Three Key Matchups to Avoid Three-Game Losing Streak
Fresh off the bye week, the Green Bay Packers will be traveling to the Rocky Mountains to try and wash off the stench from their 17-13 loss at the Las Vegas Raiders 13 days prior.
If nothing else, the Packers will be well-rested for their game at the Denver Broncos. Sunday's game will be their second in 23 days.
The Broncos also will be well rested after losing last week to the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football.
The Packers are getting healthier on offense. Christian Watson should be fully removed from a hamstring injury that has plagued him since the start of the season. Aaron Jones has practiced and should be back.
That would give Jordan Love his full arsenal of weapons, which could not come at a better time.
After a solid start to the season, Love and the offense have struggled. They've scored six points in the first half the last three games. Love has turned over the ball six times after not doing so in either of the team's first two games.
“Obviously, searching for a little bit of answers right now,” coach Matt LaFleur said after the loss to the Raiders.
“I think this week will give us an opportunity to go back, and I thought we did that over the mini-bye, but we’ve got to find something to get us going, to jumpstart us."
LaFleur is right. The Packers are searching for answers and should find them against a Broncos defense that has been awful.
This week's game has to be a get-right game for the offense.
With that in mind, here are the three key matchups for the Packers to avoid falling into a 2-4 hole.
Packers Pass Game vs. Broncos Pass Defense
If the Packers are going to challenge for a playoff spot, they'll need to be much better through the air.
Could this be the week? Even with cornerback Patrick Surtain and safety Justin Simmons, the Broncos are on pace to allow the most passing yards in NFL history and are last in passer rating. Even Chicago and Washington had big passing games against the Broncos.
Apart from a 77-yard pass play on a busted coverage to Watson, the Packers barely eclipsed 100 passing yards against the Raiders. That was true against a secondary that called up two players from the practice squad to play that night.
The lack of success against the Raiders cannot be emphasized enough. It was arguably Green Bay's worst offensive performance under LaFleur.
LaFleur said the team was searching for answers through the bye. This phase of the offense would be a great place to start.
Watson is back. Luke Musgrave should be acclimated to the offense. Those are their two most dynamic pass-catchers. They need to be featured.
Romeo Doubs, on the other hand, is coming off his least productive game of the season.
The Packers offense is searching for answers. Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur need to have a big week.
Photo by Dan Powers/USA Today Sports Images
Watson and Doubs need to make more plays. With the historic amount of youth surrounding the Packers' pass-catching groups, those two are the veterans in the room who need to get them through difficult spots.
It's a lot to ask two second-year players, but that is the bed the Packers have made.
Packers Run Game vs. Broncos Run Defense
As much as the Packers need to get their passing game going, their run game has been just as much of an issue.
The blockers are not moving anyone. When they do, the running backs are not running to daylight.
Through five games, running backs have not run for more than 100 yards in a game. Love has the only runs of longer than 15 yards.
The run game was supposed to be one of the strong points of the team as the young passing offense went through its issues. Instead, the run game is at the top of the list of most disappointing facets of the team.
AJ Dillon does not look anything like the bowling ball that bounced off opposing defenders in 2021. He had his best game of the season against the Raiders, but still only averaged 3.8 yards per carry.
Patrick Taylor was released and signed by the Patriots. Emmanuel Wilson has not found his way on to the field.
Aaron Jones should be back this week, and his presence has been sorely missed.
What better game to get right for the Packers than a Broncos defense that is last in the NFL with 5.6 rushing yards allowed per play and 172.3 rushing yards allowed per game.
If the Packers cannot find success in the run game against this defense, they may not find it all in 2023.
Packers Secondary vs. Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson played a key part in the worst loss the Packers have suffered this side of Super Bowl XXXII.
There's a very specific dynamic between Wilson and the Packers.
When Wilson has started against the Packers on his home field, he's never lost. That, of course, includes the infamous Fail Mary game. Choose to place an asterisk on that stat if you wish.
He's never won at Lambeau Field.
Wilson is a perfect 4-0 at home, and 0-5 at Lambeau Field.
Despite his successes at home in the win column, the Packers have been able to get to him.
He's turned over the ball 14 times in nine starts against the Packers. Two of his worst games as a starter were the 2014 NFC Championship Game and a 2016 regular-season tilt. Combined, he threw nine interceptions in those games.
Teams with defenses that struggle often feel pressure to score as often as possible. That could lead Sean Payton to be pass-happy against a Packers defense built to stop the pass.
Wilson has been willing to put the ball in harm's way. He's thrown 15 interceptions in 21 games since arriving in Denver.
Charles Woodson has said that if a defensive back just catches the balls that quarterbacks throw to them, they'll lead the league in interceptions. It's important for Green Bay's secondary to catch the passes that Wilson has been prone to throwing.
Turnovers and short fields can help a struggling offense. Green Bay's offense certainly fits in that category.
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