The Broncos are in town and, even though they’re 0-2, they are no pushover. Both losses were one-possession games and they actually beat a tough Bears squad until the refs decided to put another second on the clock. So here’s our take on this week’s game:
Crack In The Defense?
Raven Greene had been filling in admirably for Oren Burks at ILB, but after an injury against Minnesota, he has been moved to Injured Reserve. Burks has been participating in drills while he recovers from his preseason injury, but even if he played, he would be making his first NFL start ever. BJ Goodson is next on the depth, but he’s only been learning the Packers scheme for about a week. Rookie Ty Summers is the only other ILB they have and he’s never taken a snap on defense. Whatever route the Packers take, it won’t be ideal. Montravious Adams, who took on a starting role when Mike Daniels left, didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday. His understudy is rookie Kingsley Keke, who has never been active for a game.
Running back Phillip Lindsay hasn’t been off to a hot start for Denver, but he was a 1,000 yard rusher for Denver last year and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. He’s an explosive player who could take advantage of any softness that may show up in the middle of the Packers D.
New Look Special Teams?
With Trevor Davis shipped off to Oakland, there is a hole in the depth chart at Punt Returner and Kick Returner (as I write this, the Packers actually still list Davis at both spots on their official depth chart). Tremon Smith was claimed off waivers and, boasting 4.38 speed, has experience as a returner.
Rodgers Returning To Form?
Aaron Rodgers has not been off to the hot start we hoped for in the new offense. Sure, he’s played a couple tough defenses, but Denver isn’t rolling out a bunch of slouches, either. In Week 1, he put together a drive. In Week 2, he put together a quarter. Maybe this is the week he puts together a whole half? Last week, there wasn’t much to see for the last 3/4ths of the game, but (as we discussed in last week’s wrapup) there were some really nice passes to Adams, Jones, and MVS that were broken up by great defensive plays. Maybe this week they connect and we start to see the offense catch up to the defense.
What Might Have Been
Tight End Noah Fant and Left Guard Dalton Risner are two rookies that many thought would end up in Green Bay. Risner (who went 3 spots before Elgton Jenkins) is off to a solid start while Fant (who went one spot before Darnell Savage) hasn’t done much yet (and blocks about as good as Jimmy Graham). I always find it interesting to watch players who could have went to Green Bay.
Predictions
- Aaron Rodgers continues to improve and tosses 3 TDs and finally breaks the 210 yard passing mark
- Joe Flacco gives the Packers their biggest test yet, outperforming what Trubisky and Cousins did against Green Bay
- Phillip Lindsay breaks a big run
- Elgton Jenkins finally gets more snaps than Lane Taylor (update: Taylor was added to the injury report as a limited participant Thursday, which may be a polite way of making this happen)
- Jaire Alexander locks down and doesn’t give up a close play like he has been doing
- MVS Shines
- Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari mostly neutralize Von Miller, but he still gets a sack
Packers 27, Broncos 13