5 Takeaways from Packers v. Broncos Matchup
Well, it was another week of the same story for the Packers as they headed into Denver to face the Broncos off of a bye week. I went back anyway to make something out of the game, both positively and negatively, coming away with five things.
The Offensive Scheme Is Beyond Flat
Coming into this game, the Packers had the best opportunity imaginable to take advantage of a defense that was worst in the league in both points allowed and passing yards allowed. Instead, they wouldn’t score any points in the first half on a team that had just given up seventy points a few weeks prior to the Miami Dolphins. That three-point mark brings the average down to a league-worst 4.6 points in the first half average.
The typical story of the season was on in the second half, as the Packers started to play catch-up once again. They would score two touchdowns through the air, with one to wide receiver Romeo Doubs and the other to fellow rookie wide receiver Jayden Reed. They would hold a one-point lead, 17-16, until the defense gave up a field goal in the mid to late fourth quarter, making it 19-17 Broncos. In familiar territory this time, the Packers and Jordan Love had just under four minutes to drive down the field and, at the very minimum, get into field goal range.
Instead, a drive well on its way to being a game-winner stalled out to a third and twenty in which Jordan Love forced a ball into double coverage, resulting in the game-sealing interception for the Broncos. The lack of shots downfield is due to a lack of play design in which, on multiple occasions, the Packers had a receiver and tight end running a route within a few yards of each other into the same zone. If they cannot figure out how to get key guys involved and spread the field, this will be the same story in more games this season.
The Offensive Line Problems Continued
On top of the schemes and play calling, the offensive line minus Elgton Jenkins and Zach Tom looked the same. One positive to be taken is no sacks were allowed, but the Denver defensive line was getting through for pressures and stuffing the run game quite often. Regardless, you shouldn’t have no points at the half against a team allowing almost thirty-five points a game. The run game averaged 4.7 yards per carry, which is solid, but the penalties, including Elgton Jenkins’s holding on the final drive of the game, are constantly stalling drives, it seems, throughout the game. The blocking scheme needs work or even to be simplified to make the players disciplined.
The Defensive Line Took A Big Step Back.
Besides Rashan Gary, who had six pressures, the unit only combined for three other pressures without Gary’s name on it. Gary has been tearing it up this year for the defensive line, but he needs some help. With how deep the defensive line room is, either the scheme has to change, or players need to figure out a better way to get home.
The Injuries Continue To Pile Up
For a team that was on a bye week, you would have never guessed so. While there isn’t as much you can do to stop injuries that are happening, trying to develop as a young team when many players are injured makes developing more challenging.
Run Defense Continues To Be A Problem
It seems that I write about each of these quite often, but the trends are staying the same. This year alone, Bijan Robinson and David Montgomery, among others, have had very good games on the ground versus the Packers. There are a few plays where the call just doesn’t make sense. For example, they stuffed a loaded front on the goal line against the Broncos.
In response, the Broncos proceeded to bring in more blockers in an even heavier set. Joe Barry responded by audibling to nickel, allowing the Denver offense to basically gain a free three to four yards on the goal line, and sure enough, they punched the next play in for a touchdown. If you cannot stop the run while the defense has actually been solid this year, you’ll find out, combined with a struggling offense, that it can be very easy to find yourself chasing, as they have.
Overall, it’s been about the same few things each week, and when none of them are getting cleaned up, the team will continue to struggle in the same ways that they already have been.
