Schedule makers hit a bullseye when planning the week 15 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos. To have a game of this magnitude, especially two division leaders in an inter-conference affair, does not happen every December.
The Packers, winners of four straight, including last week’s showdown against the Chicago Bears, currently set the pace in the NFC North and are the #2-seed in the conference with a 9-3-1 record. After starting the season at 1-2, Denver has reeled off ten consecutive wins and holds the top spot in the AFC with an 11-2 mark.
Much has been said about Jordan Love’s stellar play, which has lifted Green Bay to its place in the standings. Oddsmakers have vaulted him into a legitimate MVP candidate, listing him with the fourth-best odds to win the prestigious award.
In the Mile High City, the Broncos’ pass rush has set opposing quarterbacks on full alert. Through their first 13 games, Denver’s defense has registered 55 sacks, eleven more than second-place Cleveland, and have given up only 282 yards per game.
Aside from the obvious importance of who wins the matchup between Love and the 2025 version of the Orange Crush defense, other “X-factors” exist. Those lesser-publicized intangibles just may have the final say in who emerges victorious in Denver on Sunday.
In the second half last Sunday, the Bears found the chinks in Green Bay’s defensive armor, especially without injured starter Devonte Wyatt. Chicago stayed in the game by gashing the Packers for 90 rushing yards after halftime, which was compared to just 48 yards gained in the opening half.
Trailing 21-14 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Bears started at their own 35 and broke off runs of 9, 7, 7 and 8 yards on four of their first five plays, most of them between the tackles. Just like that, they were at the Packers’ 34-yard line.
Truth be told, Green Bay’s defensive line was fatigued.
It didn’t help that Wyatt’s replacement in the starting lineup, Karl Brooks, was coming back from an ankle injury that caused him to miss all but four snaps the two games prior. He was forced to play 47 snaps, and the other starter, Colby Wooden, had to play more snaps (43) than he had in all but one of his past eight games.
Denver will test the Packers similarly with their ground game. Starting running back J.K. Dobbins is on injured reserve, but his backup, RJ Harvey, has filled in admirably. Against the Las Vegas Raiders last week, Harvey toted the ball 17 times for 75 yards.
Rest assured that Broncos head coach Sean Payton watched the film on a repeated loop. While they are not the Bears when it comes to running the ball, Denver and their offensive-minded coach will surely test Brooks and Wooden early and often to test their mettle.
Third-year pro and return specialist Marvin Mims, Jr. just may be the answer Denver is looking for when they face the Packers. He is the reigning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after he returned a punt 48 yards for a score against the Raiders. His touchdown proved to be the difference in a seven-point 24-17 win.
Mims, who is a two-time All-Pro returner, has been exemplary in returning punts; his 16.4 average per punt return ranks him fourth in the NFL. In a game that may be decided by field position where every possession matters, this variable could pay huge dividends for the Broncos and their game plan.
The Packers, on the other hand, have struggled defending their opponents’ punt returns. Green Bay’s special teams have struggled this season, ranking near the bottom of the league in punt return yards allowed at 11.4 per attempt. Mims’s ability to consistently put the Broncos in favorable field position could be crucial against a stubborn Packers defense.
There is an old saying in sports that claims “fortune favors the team that makes the fewest mistakes.” In a game of such magnitude as the one to be played on Sunday, the margin between winning or losing is destined to be razor thin.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur must motivate his troops to the highest level two weeks in a row and avoid a letdown from last week. One way is to stay steady and steer clear of turnovers.
Oddsmakers have deemed the Packers as slight favorites, even on the road. What that says to both teams is that the experts have not totally bought into what the Broncos have done thus far, even though they have not lost since September 21.
Green Bay won the battle of time possession against the Bears. They made key plays and averted disastrous plays when necessary, but they were far from perfect. The road remains full of obstacles to hurdle this week, and the team that avoids the most pitfalls will succeed.
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