Rodgers, Packers struggle in 29-10 loss to Broncos

While standout quarterback Peyton Manning has remained the focal point for the Broncos, Denver’s league-best defense has quietly been the pillar of their growing status as Super Bowl contenders. The Packers experienced more injuries in the secondary, having two more corners banged up in the game, allowing Manning to throw for a season high 340 yards.

Denver will try to keep it rolling as Manning looks to set the all-time career wins mark by a quarterback against his former team when the Broncos take on the Colts in Indianapolis. On their next drive, Manning threw his best pass of the season: a picturesque long ball to Thomas that went for 47 yards.

Both teams were coming off byes, and that should have been an advantage for Green Bay, which was 8-1 in its first games back under McCarthy. This was so frustrating to watch, but you got to give credit to Denver the’re game plan worked to perfection.

Ronnie Hillman ran for two touchdowns and C.J. Anderson had another for the Broncos, whose offence finally broke out of its funk after the defence became the story of their undefeated start through the first six games. A dozen players, including defensive ends Malik Jackson (3.5) and Antonio Smith (2.5), nose tackle Sylvester Williams (2.0), outside linebacker Shane Ray (2.0) and strong safety T.J. Green Bay fell to 6-1, snapping an eight-game regular-season winning streak dating to a year ago.

“If people don’t think we’re the No1 defence now, I don’t know what to say”, cornerback Chris Harris Jr said. “(Manning) had a few turnovers in the previous games but he was still Manning. He commanded their offense tonight. They’re our guys. We like them.

However, the Denver Broncos absolutely shut down the big play, or even medium-capability, of arguably the best passer in football to be able to make any sort of a meaningful pass play in the Packers’ 29-10 loss to the Denver Broncos.

-PASS DEFENSE: A-plus. With three sacks factored in, the Broncos held the Packers to just 50 net passing yards on 25 pass plays – a piddling 2.0 yards-per-play average that seems unfathomable for an Aaron Rodgers-led offense. In the scramble, the ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered by tight end Richard Rodgers for a safety.

The Packers travel to Charlotte, NC on Sunday in what will be a battle between the top two teams in the NFC. The offensive line and the run game had an extra week to work themselves into a more cohesive unit. “I feel like towards the end, we just had them”. The Broncos’ defensive coordinator took a jab – an innocuous but well-played one – at Packers fans by tweeting, “Chicken Parm tastes so good-I like it especially with Cheese” Monday morning, a reference to Peyton Manning’s Nationwide commercials.

Brees became the eighth quarterback to throw for seven touchdowns in a single game in the scoring extravaganza – which ironically was decided by the 50-yard field goal as time expired by Saints kicker Kai Forbath. Denver eclipsed that in the second quarter. James Jones has been more than serviceable, and Davante Adams just came back from an ankle injury, but Jordy Nelson-who tore his ACL before the season-is sorely missed. The Broncos manhandled Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, 29-10. That ties him with Lawrence Taylor and Leslie O’Neal for 11th place on the NFL’s all-time sack list.