The last time the Packers played the Broncos was 2019. The Packers never trailed, and won handily 27-16, despite rushing for fewer than 80 yards. It was Green Bay's 4th win in 5 games against Denver.

However, that game was in Green Bay. Today, the Packers play in the Mile High City, where they have struggled.

The Packers are 1-6 all time in Denver, and their only win came in overtime. The thin mountain air has not been kind to the Packers. However, this is a bad Broncos team, who is 0-3 at home so far this year.

WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL

The Packers offense is a work in progress.

In the early part of the season, they came out hot, moving the ball often, though inconsistently.

The last two weeks, they's really been spinning their wheels, managing only 33 combined points against the Lions and Raiders.

This may be a good week to get on track, as the Broncos defense ranks dead last in both points and yards. However, after giving up 70 points to the Dolphins, they turned around the next week and held the Chiefs to 19 in Kansas City.

Denver's defense isn't without talent. Patrick Surtain is a top tier cornerback (who will probably win against whichever Packers receiver he guards), while edge rushers Jonathan Cooper and Nik Bonitto have combined for 9.5 sacks this year. But, on the whole, they haven't really had a single great performance this year.

Hopefully, Matt LaFleur had some time to make adjustments over the bye week.

Jordan Love has been taking a lot of deep shots, despite not having a high completion percentage. This appears to be part of his development, throwing the ball more to get a rapport established with his receivers. There's been some nice plays, but they'll need at least some consistency to win today. Throwing a lot without connecting will really tire out the receivers in the mountain air and slow their overall pace. 

There is also the possibility that Jordan Love, who has been overthrowing balls all year, tosses some passes into the stand in the mile high air today. Their deep plays need to be calculated and they need some run game support.

The run game has been dismal without Aaron Jones, though.  Jones is listed as questionable for today's game. Even when he appeared in limited opportunities in their last game, poor blocking made it tough for him, or any other back, to get anywhere.9

David Bakhtiari's loss has echoed across the entire unit. Elgton Jenkins (who is also listed as questionable) has battled through his injury and Zach Tom has been solid, but the line as a whole has played inconsistently. It has been varying levels of disarray all year and the tackle depth that looked so promising in the offseason has not yielded benefits while Bakhtiari sits on IR and Yosh Nijman, for reasons I can't explain, sits on the bench.

With blocking issues, the Packers have tried the screen pass game, but couldn't get it going with Patrick Taylor in a niche receiving role. The Packers signed James Robinson to the practice squad and, with his track record as a great receiving back, he could see some time in that role if he is elevated for this afternoon's game.

WHEN THE PACKERS ARE ON DEFENSE

The Broncos offense has been middling across the board.

Russell Wilson hasn't been able to take advantage of his talented receiver duo in Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. Their passing attack is in the bottom half of the league, but is near the top in passing touchdowns due to a ton of red zone touchdown passes, including 5 from within the 5 yard line.

The Packers defense will need to be wary near the goal line and play a lot of flood coverage in the red zone. Lucking, Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry makes pass defense a focus over the run game.

Not that the Broncos run game is anything special.

Jaleel McLaughlin is listed as the third running back on the depth chart, but leads the team with 190 yards on just 29 carries. Starter Javonte Williams is tied with 190 yards, but has taken 48 carries to get there, with a pedestrian average of 4.0 yards per carry.

Russell Wilson is third on the team with 150 rushings yards. In the past, the Packers have found success against him with a contain rush that was more focused on keeping him in the pocket than getting a sack. That may be the safe approach today, as no opponents have needed to rack up a bunch of sacks to stop the Broncos.

The Packers defense really just needs a solid outing, but injuries will make that difficult. De'Vondre Campbell is expected to miss another game today, but he probable won't be the only defensive starter to sit. Jaire Alexander has had time to rest his back, but it appears to have flared up mid-week and he is listed as questionable, along with Quay Walker, Darnell Savage, Devonte Wyatt, and Eric Stokes. The Broncos offense is bad enough to be slowed by backups, and the Packers defense has held up pretty well, despite their injuries. 

The biggest concern here is that the Packers let the Broncos put together some long drives that wear them out in the thin air. If the offense goes three and out and the defense has to do back-to-back 15 yard drives without a lot of rotational depth, this could get out of hand.

OTHER NOTES

Denver wide receiver Marvin Mims had a 99 yard kick return for a touchdown against the Dolphins and will need to be accounted for.

Anders Carlson has shows a strong leg so far this year and may be able to test long field goals in Denver,

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Packers should win this game because they are simply more talented than their opponent and the other guys are in coaching turmoil.

That was what I said last week, too.

I still believe it, though.

I am concerned about the air and I'm concerned that the Broncos see the flailing Packers as their best chance to chalk up another win.

More than anything, I believe the Packers found something on offense during self-scouting in the bye week. That gives me hope that the Packers can squeak one out.

Packers 17, Broncos 13