Peyton Manning, Broncos Come on Strong and Reveal the Packers' Flaws

DENVER—It was early in the second half and Peyton Manning faced a 3rd-and-8. The ball was snapped, Manning dropped back and the pocket started to quickly collapse. What happened next was different from anything we've seen Manning do most of the season.

The football came out of Manning's hands with force and zip. Like it was shot from a torpedo tube. Manning's arm was supposed to be deader than Richard Nixon. It was supposed to be so noodle-like you could serve it with wonton soup and a glass of tea.

The bye week has crushed that narrative, at least for now. The rest obviously greatly helped Manning's arm. The vaunted Green Bay defense also helped by suddenly deciding to stop covering receivers and failing to put any significant pressure on Manning all night.

"Obviously he played spectacularly tonight," said Denver head coach Gary Kubiak.

When asked if he basically wanted to say that his performance might quiet the critics, Manning smiled, then said: "I just don't give what ya'll say that much merit." (Actually, he does. Manning hears and measures everything that's said about him in the media. He's been this way his entire NFL career.)

Though the rest of the season looms and the winter months will again test Manning's creaky body, he was able to step back in time and totally dominate in this battle of unbeaten teams on an emotional night when dozens of former Broncos returned to honor owner Pat Bowlen being inducted into the team's Ring of Fame.

But that is only part of the story emerging from this game which the Broncos won, 29-10, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.

The other part is what the hell has happened to this Packers offense.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Part of it, for this game, was a sprightly and fierce Broncos defense that pressured Rodgers all night. There's something bigger in play, however. There's been a dramatic slowdown in production from Aaron Rodgers and the passing offense. It's palpable.

Sunday night was another example. Rodgers had 15 yards passing in the first quarter. At the half, he had 37. After three quarters, he had 70 yards passing and no touchdowns.

He finished with 77 passing yards, the lowest of his career when he's had at least 20 attempts.

This is something I never thought I'd see with Rodgers. Ever. Rodgers can throw for 77 yards while dropping off his dry cleaning.

The problem isn't solely the offensive line; it's the lack of a fast Jordy Nelson, lost with an ACL tear before the season started. That's clear now, and these are problems Rodgers and the Packers will have to try to solve as the season goes on. No time to panic in Green Bay. That would be stupid. But something is damn wrong.

"I haven't had my ass kicked like that in a long time," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.

For now, this is the Broncos' world, and this win shows what can happen when Manning's arm is whole. There were a couple of floaters—one helium-balloon pass was intercepted in the fourth quarter—but Manning was sharp overall. He finished 21-of-29 for 340 yards.

Manning didn't throw a touchdown pass, but he didn't need to. The team's amped up running attack scored three times.

It was legitimate, and not media-trolling, to worry about Manning's arm strength. One of the more staggering moments of Manning's career was when Denver played Oakland several weeks ago, and he threw a lollipop that Charles Woodson plucked out of the air like he was picking an apple from a tree.

Despite an improved Manning, what makes the Broncos truly scary is their defense. It's totally legit. As in, the best in the NFL by leaps and bounds.

It held Rodgers to under 80 passing yards, which is, well, just absolutely bonkers. The Broncos were in Rodgers' face all night, and the defensive backfield is as fast and vicious as we've seen in maybe the past five years or so.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Coming into this game, the Packers were supposed to provide that defense with its first true test. This wasn't a test. This was a demolition.

"It was a big measuring stick for the whole team," said Denver's DeMarcus Ware, speaking of the prospect of facing the Packers. "Everyone took that to heart and stepped up to the challenge."

Ware said the defenders knew they might not get Rodgers for a lot of sacks, but if they kept him contained and flushed the middle of the pocket, they could make him squirm. That's pretty much exactly how it happened.

After the game, Manning and Rodgers met at midfield for their obligatory handshake. Rodgers looked, well, disgusted. Not by Manning, obviously, but by his performance. Rodgers knows this isn't him or his team.

When Manning met the press, he simply looked relieved. Through seven games this year, Manning has seven touchdown passes. In 2013, he had seven touchdown passes in a single game.

No, this isn't vintage Manning. You know what this is? It's good-enough Manning.

It's 7-0 Manning.

"Yeah, he’s still got it," said Rodgers of Manning. "Yeah, he’s good."

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.