Broncos vs. Packers Late Week Report

The Green Bay Packers come into this weekend’s game against the Denver Broncos at 3-0. They are one of only two undefeated teams remaining in the NFC and are looking for their tenth straight victory dating back to last season. The Broncos, on the other hand, are playing mediocre football. They come to Lambeau with a 1-2 record and a fed up fan base. The Broncos fans are chomping at the bit to have Tim Tebow, the third string quarterback, replace starter Kyle Orton. The fans feel that if they are going to lose, they should lose with Tebow as their quarterback. I am a big fan of Kyle Orton and consider him very underrated as a quarterback. He is tough, mentally and physically. Since he has come into the league he has been overlooked. First in Chicago when he was replaced by Rex Grossman and now in Denver with fans calling for his benching in favor of Tim Tebow. This could be looked at as a trap game for the Packers because it is, on paper, an inferior team and the Packers go to Atlanta next Sunday and play a big game against the Falcons. In the NFL you have to be on your game every week or you are going to lose and I believe the Packers will not take the Broncos too lightly.

The Packers vs. Broncos rivalry is a pretty historic one. The two teams have faced off in a Super Bowl and have had some pretty historic matchups. The Packers come into this game relatively healthy. Ruled out for the game are Nick Collins (neck), Mike Neal (knee), and Frank Zombo (scapula). Collins was lost for the season but is still on the active roster and Mike Neal will be out at least 4-5 more weeks after finding a cartilage tear on his injured knee. Zombo may return to practice next week but still could be out a couple more weeks. Ryan Grant (kidney), Bryan Bulaga (knee), Charles Woodson (foot and knee), and Brad Jones (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Grant and Bulaga are long shots to play on Sunday, even though they expressed their availability to play to the media. If Grant and Bulaga cannot go on Sunday, James Starks and Marshall Newhouse would take their spots on offense. Woodson should practice in the walkthrough on Friday and be ready to go on Sunday. Jones is harder to tell because it is a hamstring. I would inactivate him this week because Vic So’oto got a full week of practice in and should be healed from his weightlifting back injury. The Pack practiced outside on Thursday and where in full pads working on tackling and hitting drills. I would expect the Pack to exploit the Broncos safeties and linebackers in coverage and get the ball to Jermicheal Finley with a heavy dose of play action passes. The Broncos will try to take away Greg Jennings, so Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver and James Jones should have more passes thrown to them.

The Broncos have no one ruled out of the game yet. Wide receiver Eddie Royal (groin), Demaryius Thomas (finger), and tight end Julius Thomas (ankle) all sat out Wednesday’s practice and all will likely be game time decisions on Sunday. The Broncos should have cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring), defensive end Elvis Dumervil (shoulder) and running back Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) back in the lineup for Sunday after missing last week’s game in Tennessee. Their defense will try to get pressure on Aaron Rodgers with Dumervil and first round draft pick Von Miller and I would expect them to go after Marshall Newhouse. Newhouse held his own and played pretty well against Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije last week against the Bears. On offense, the Broncos will try to exploit Charlie Peprah in coverage and look for them to try to run the ball between the tackles with Willis McGahee and Moreno.

My Prediction: I think the Packers will handle the Broncos from the opening kick. Rodgers to Finley all day and the Packer's defense will cause turnovers and get to Orton. Packers win this one big.

Packers 42 Broncos 17

Matt