Packers vs. Broncos: Full Denver Game Preview

Fresh off their bye week, the Denver Broncos (6-0) will entertain the Green Bay Packers (6-0) on Sunday Night Football in Week 8. Like Denver, Green Bay will also be coming off its bye week.

The game will feature two of the league's five remaining unbeaten teams.

The Broncos will have to hope they have fixed some of their offensive woes if they are going to compete with a team that has averaged 27.3 points per game this season. On the other hand, the Broncos will throw the league's No. 1 overall defense at Aaron Rodgers and company.

This will be the first meeting between the teams in over four years, and Denver hasn't beaten the Packers since a 31-10 victory in October 1999.

For a full preview of this game, including key matchups to watch, read on.

Location: Sports Authority Field, Denver

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Week 6 Recap

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The last time the Broncos took the field, they needed overtime to defeat the Cleveland Browns, winning 26-23 on a 34-yard field goal from Brandon McManus in the extra session.

Denver overcame three interceptions by Peyton Manning to get the victory. Ronnie Hillman was able to provide a spark on the ground, rushing for 111 yards.

But like many of the games Denver has been involved in this season, it was the defense that made the biggest plays. Aqib Talib returned an interception for a touchdown, and the defense held tight after Manning gave the Browns excellent field position following his third interception of the game.

Cleveland quarterback Josh McCown was sacked four times and absorbed nine hits in the game. Denver has now won nine games in a row over the Browns. 

News and Notes

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Marvin Austin Released

Marvin Austin, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve prior to the start of the season, has been released by the team, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. 

This is the latest in what has become a very disappointing career for Austin, a former second-round draft pick. Austin seemed like he could be a good fit for Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense, but he'll never get a chance to play in it.

Austin finishes his short tenure in Denver with just 12 tackles.

Matchup of Undefeated Teams Is Rare

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com makes note of how rare it is to see two 6-0 teams facing each other in the NFL. There have been just four such games in NFL history, and this will be the first time it has happened in about eight seasons.

With an undefeated team from each conference squaring off, it's easy to call this a possible preview of the Super Bowl.

Pat Bowlen to Be Honored Sunday Night

Though this will be one of the biggest games of the NFL season, what should not get lost in the shuffle is the fact that the long time owner of the Broncos, Pat Bowlen, will be inducted into the team's Ring of Fame at halftime.

Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post has more on the story here.

This is something you know that John Elway, Gary Kubiak and the rest of the organization are eagerly anticipating. Bowlen has been one of the most important figures in team history and is very deserving of the prestigious honor.

Latest Injury News

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The Broncos' latest practice participation report, courtesy of NFL.com, can be viewed here.

The big names to keep an eye on this week are Ty Sambrailo, Shane Ray and DeMarcus Ware. The Broncos were without Ware against Cleveland, but the bye week may have provided him enough time to get back on the field.

The team likely won't rush Ray back onto the field, particularly given the emergence of Shaquil Barrett. As for Sambrailo, the team desperately needs him back on the field.

Though he's just a rookie, Sambrailo is a much better option than Tyler Polumbus, one of the players the team has had to rely on in Sambrailo's absence. Most importantly, the Broncos need to form some cohesion along the offensive line. That won't happen with the starting left tackle on the shelf.

The play of the offensive line has been the Broncos' biggest weakness this season. They need to get back to full strength in order to begin to improve.

Key Matchups

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Denver Secondary vs. Green Bay Wide Receivers: This is an obvious one. Though the Broncos have been stingy against the pass this season, the secondary will face its biggest test in the form of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

With Jordy Nelson out for the season with an injury and Randall Cobb at less than 100 percent, Rodgers has still been able to put up solid numbers. He has 1,491 yards passing and 15 touchdowns on the year. He's also completing 68 percent of his throws.

Deadly accurate, Rodgers will be tough to slow down regardless of who his receivers are. However, the Broncos won't complain that Nelson isn't on the field. Cobb and James Jones will be enough of a headache.

In addition, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports that Davante Adams could be back on the field as well.

Denver Defensive Line vs. Aaron Rodgers Pre-Snap

If you've watched any recent Packers games, you've noticed how aggressive Rodgers is before the snap. He frequently picks up free yardage by drawing defensive players offside.

Denver must stay disciplined and avoid making mistakes, particularly on 3rd-and-short situations. The Broncos can't give up free yardage to this team, and they absolutely must avoid giving up a fresh set of downs by allowing Rodgers to get them to jump.

Denver Running Backs vs. Clay Matthews

Clay Matthews is the Packers' middle linebacker, but he plays everywhere. He stops the run, he drops back into coverage and he blitzes the quarterback. He is one of the most aggressive defensive players in the league.

You can bet Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers will have several blitzes designed for this game where Matthews comes full force at Manning. Whether it's C.J. Anderson, Ronnie Hillman or Juwan Thompson, the running back in the game must be wary of Matthews and ready to block him often.

Thompson could be useful in this game, and Kubiak should consider giving him extra snaps since he'd likely fare better against Matthews than Anderson or Hillman. Matthews is tough to slow down, but if the running back can give Manning an extra half-second to throw the ball, it could be the difference between a sack and a big play.

X-Factor Player

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Broncos' X-Factor of the Week: Bradley Roby

The Packers are a passing team and in this game, they will put the ball in the air often. As a result, the Broncos will need their defensive backs to be ready.

Rodgers is a smart, accurate quarterback. He has been around the league long enough to know that throwing against Talib or Chris Harris on the outside won't be easy. As a result, he'll look to find a mismatch on the inside.

The Packers will likely line up in four-wide receiver sets often in this game. If Cobb and Adams are matched up against Harris and Talib on the outside, look for Rodgers to get Jones matched up against a guy like Bradley Roby for a big play.

With Ty Montgomery nursing an injury, a guy like Jeff Janis could also be used in the passing game if he can't play.

The Broncos will have their hands full, but Roby is not necessarily a player you want to pick on. If Rodgers goes after him too much, Roby has the capability of making him pay for it.

Prediction

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This is going to be the biggest test the Broncos have faced this season—by far. Make no mistake, if they play the way the way they have the first six games of the season, they will lose this one.

That is saying something for a team that is 6-0, but the Broncos are fortunate to be undefeated at this point. If Manning tosses multiple interceptions and the running game can't get out of its own way, Green Bay will hand them defeat.

The Packers are just too talented to make mistakes against. To win, the Broncos must protect the ball and sustain drives. The key factor in defeating Green Bay is by keeping Rodgers off the field.

Though both teams are coming off a bye week, the Broncos have the luxury of playing at home. If this game were taking place at Lambeau Field, it would be a different story.

Kubiak has had extra time to get his team ready for this game and, after finding success running the ball against Cleveland, he has something to build on.

The key will be Manning and whether or not he can protect the ball. He has thrown at least one interception in each game this season, but he will change that this week.

Manning will not turn the ball over, the running game will churn out over 100 yards again and Denver will control time of possession. After all of that, it will still be barely enough to win the game.

Final Prediction: Broncos 24, Packers 23