Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos - Pre-Season Game #3 - A Primer

by John Bena on Aug 18, 2008 8:19 PM MDT in 2008 Game Previews Comment 10 comments

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For me, pre-season game #3 is the most important of the pre-season. The starters are likely to play 3 quarters, which excites me because the first stringers have been playing well on both sides of the ball. Jay Cutler is playing some of the best football I've seen from #6, and the rookies are showing signs that they are going to make a huge impact in 2008.

The Packers are finally putting the Brett Favre situation behind them, though being embarrassed by the 49'ers 34-6 this past weekend won't help the fans move on. The Quest this year is a bit of a reckoning, of sorts. We all remember the Monday Night Favre Love-Fest, then the painful OT loss thanks the Favre. Like the Cowboys last week, who we paid a bit of revenge to for last year's beatdown, we have a little somethin' - somethin' for the Packers as well. And yea, we'll catch up with Favre a bit later.

First Stringers Are Getting It Done

Through the first quarter of their opening two preseason games, the Broncos have outscored their opponents 14-3 and out gained them 179-108 yards while posting an 18:47-11:13 time-of-possession lead. In the first half, Denver owns a 394-266 (+128) yardage advantage and a 38:12-21:48 (+16:24) time-of-possession lead.

Cutler ranks second in the NFL in passer rating (110.7) and has completed 24-of-30 (80.0%) passes for 237 yards with one touchdown. Second-year kicker Matt Prater (21 pts.) leads the league in scoring while rookie free agent linebacker Wesley Woodyard is tied for fifth in the NFL in tackles (13).

Last Five(3-2) Pre-Season Meetings With The Pack

at GREEN BAY 22, DENVER 7 (Aug. 20, 2001)
Denver allowed 16 points in the third quarter to drop a 22-7 contest against Green Bay at Lambeau Field... Broncos QB Brian Griese posted a 93.3 passer rating, completing 8-of-10 passes for 79 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown toss to Patrick Hape in the second quarter... Denver WR Rod Smith led all receivers with five catches for 59 yards while RB Mike Anderson totaled 56 rushing yards on 14 carries.

at DENVER 26, GREEN BAY 20 (Aug. 13, 2000)
The Broncos scored 10 points in each of the second and third quarters en route to their 26-20 win over Green Bay at Mile High Stadium... The Broncos’ passing tandem of Brian Griese and Gus Frerotte combined for 309 gross passing yards, completing 23-of- 36 passes... Denver RB Olandis Gary led all rushers with 94 yards with one touchdown on 22 carries... WR Rod Smith paced the receivers with six catches for 73 yards while WR Ed McCaffrey turned a 61-yard grab on Denver’s first offensive play... Denver K Jason Elam connected on all four of his field goal attempts.

at GREEN BAY 27, DENVER 12 (Aug. 23, 1999)
Green Bay opened a 24-3 lead by halftime and took a 27-12 decision over Denver at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisc.... Broncos QB Brian Griese connected on 16-of-28 attempts for 176 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions... Broncos RB Terrell Davis averaged 4.8 yards per rush as he registered 24 yards on five attempts while Denver RB Leeland McElroy added 12 carries for 56 yards (4.7 avg.)... Broncos S George Coghill and S Brad Trout recorded interceptions... The game started auspiciously for the Packers when Brett Favre jammed a finger on John Mobley’s helmet on the first play of Green Bay’s second possession.

at DENVER 34, Green Bay 31 (Aug. 24, 1998)
In a game that featured an interception returned for a touchdown (Green Bay’s LeRoy Butler, 30 yds.), a fumble returned for a touchdown (Denver’s Tyrone Braxton, 7 yds.), a punt returned for a touchdown (Denver’s Darrien Gordon, 65 yds.) and a kickoff returned for a touchdown (Green Bay’s Roell Preston, 99 yds.), it was Jason Elam’s 49-yard field goal with 3:10 remaining in the fourth quarter that provided the difference in a 34-31 Broncos victory over the Green Bay Packers at Mile High Stadium... Broncos QB John Elway completed 13-of-22 passes for 179 yards, including an 80-yard scoring strike to WR Rod Smith.

at DENVER 20, GREEN BAY 14 (Aug. 15, 1987)
Denver used two touchdown passes from QB John Elway to earn a 20-14 win over Green Bay at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz....Elway finished the game connecting on 7-of-12 passes for 107 yards with a pair of scores... Denver RB Sammy Winder gained 36 yards on eight carries (4.5 avg.)... DB Bruce Plummer and S Tony Lilly each posted an interception for the Broncos defense.

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Nice graphic

I like the design, whoever made it bravo.

I think this will be a good game, i am looking forward to it. I very much hope that Jay carries over his success from the Cowboys game.

Go Broncos!

by dbroncos78087 on Aug 18, 2008 9:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I need to see us crush the packers...

…I need proof that last weekend wasn’t a fluke.

I need to see the following:

1. A pass rush!!! I want to see Aaron Rogers in tears!
2. A running game…time for Selvin to show why he’s the #1 guy!
3. Turnovers! The defense has looked much better…but where are the turnovers?
4. Another WR show up…DJack, Colbert, Russell, Martinez, Parker…I don’t care who, but someone needs to show up.
5 Consistency! Broncos need to show that they can bring their A game week in and week out.

by UnarmingMermaid on Aug 18, 2008 9:45 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, hopefully

with the starters playing a majority of the game we will see some improvement like we did last week. I agree with you #1 choice greatly. I need to see some kind of pressure up front and welcome Rogers to his new position with a few sacks/INT.

Turnovers and hopefully Jack Williams will go all the way this time. ;)

by weazel on Aug 18, 2008 11:34 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Packers definately don't look like a Super Bowl contender

I agree we need a good game, but I don’t know how much of a good game will be because of what we do versus what the Packers can’t do. Obviously the Brett Favre thing has wounded this organization, and it seems to me that it is very rare if ever that you can have a hall of fame QB leave and the next guy be able to handle the pressure the next season, which looks like what is happening to Rogers. The only one I can think of that handled the situation was Steve Young after Montana was traded, but even that took several seasons before he was vindicated.

I agree I want to see a more consistent pass rush from the DE position (someone other than Dummervil)

2. Continued improvement in run defense and a MLB to emerge (I think Webster will start so should be a good gage).

3. Some good work from Young and Hall, I think Hall will emerge as the starter after this game.

4. Continued strong kick-offs and some improvement on coverage teams.

5. Avoid injuries.

Broncoman

by Broncoman on Aug 18, 2008 9:55 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

5 things to look for, again

1. st returns. if we are planning for royal to be a wr now, then we have the same question we had before the draft at returner. let the auditions begin, again

2. wr’s. now that it appears a rookie returner has beaten you out, what are you going to do about it? who can return and block better may have an advantage here, now

3. rb’s/fb’s. running, receiving, blocking from the starters. pittman, hillis, and alridge need to make a stronger case here. it appears everything else is settled

4. ol. nalen, holland, where art thou? it appears wiegmann is staying at center for now, kuper at rg, and harris at rt. does shanny change it up, or is this our starting 5?

5. defense. i have questions at each level to look for: d-rob and the depth at dt, moss/crowder at de, mlb and sam, starting safeties(abdullah?), and barrett/williams.

this game should tell us more about who is making the roster than position battles. i think punter, returner, mlb, and many backup roles will go down to the wire, and may even extend into the season in some areas, based on performance. run defense will be my primary focus, especially inside. dt’s, niko/nate, show me something

by davecheffy on Aug 18, 2008 10:58 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

San Fran's pass rush beat the hell out of GB last week

We’d better see a few sacks and hurries on Friday. The Pack looked AWFUL last weekend, especially thier 1st team Offense.

As far as the punt returner, I think Royal should still be out there. For KR, I would like Andre Hall back there.

You can’t play not to get hurt. You have to put your talent in a position to make plays and that likely means keeping Hall and Royal on return teams.

by super7 on Aug 19, 2008 9:21 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

For me this is Clady's situation

to prove he can block the second level attack and for royal to prove he can get out against a good #2 DB on offense. On Defense this is the time for our LB corps to prove the can penetrate and cover the offense. Green Bay can be potent if Rodgers can control himself and lead this team.

Until Terrell Davis makes it into the Hall of Fame, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a place other than the Ring of Fame at Mile High!

Davis to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Aug 19, 2008 10:28 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Is anyone else bothered by the fact that all of the playoff teams from a year ago

are getting whooped in the preseason? If that’s the trend for the great teams in the league…shouldn’t I be hoping for that trend with the Broncos? lol nah…

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

I got a high ankle sprain in college and it still hurts! ~ TSG 8/13/08

by Tim Lynch on Aug 19, 2008 11:31 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Coaches have different things toplay for in the preseason.

just like here Zappa, Some want four wins and some want 4 games of solid play from the team. I’m sure this is no refelction on their caliber. By the way, I got my copy of madden ’09 and ran the season simulation 5 times just to see what the “Original Roster” Broncos would do. In those five times I got these results:

11-5 0-1 playoffs
12-4 1-1 playoffs
12-4 1-1 playoffs
10-6 2-1 playoffs
13-3 2-0 playoffs SB appearence

Not a bad outing really. I didnt simulate the SB becasue I didnt want to jinx anything ha ha but even the fat man’s video game thinks we should preform well.

Until Terrell Davis makes it into the Hall of Fame, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a place other than the Ring of Fame at Mile High!

Davis to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Aug 19, 2008 11:55 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

dont forget

There is usually 4-6 new playoff teams per season. Great example is the NFC South has NEVER had a repeat division Champ. 5 of the past 10 Super Bowl runners up missed the playoffs all together the next season. The only 2 locks I see in the AFC this year are NE (bad division) and Indy (i reserve the right to change my mind on that one) But I see SD and Denver making it, Pitt and Houston making it. Not sold on Jax (harvey still unsingned a reach BTW) and Tenn, remember they have VY and no WR’s.

by broncfanstuckinsd on Aug 19, 2008 11:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs