GREEN BAY – The consensus amongst the Packers is Denver’s defense will be the best they’ve faced all season.
Green Bay’s approach? To show up and show out on Sunday.
“What a great challenge,” Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. “But also … there’s great opportunity that goes with that.”
The matchup in Denver pits a Broncos defense allowing 16.8 points per game over its last five against a Packers offense scoring 27.3 points per game over its last four.
Denver also sports the league’s top-ranked defense on third down (30.9%), while Green Bay possesses the top-ranked offense on third down (50.6%).
The contrasts are numerous and make for as intriguing an AFC vs. NFC showdown as there is, particularly this late in the season.
What stands out the most about the Broncos’ defense is the pass rush, which leads the league by a large margin with 55 sacks, on pace to threaten the all-time single-season record of 72 set by the 1985 Chicago Bears.
Edge rusher Nik Bonitto leads the way with 12½ sacks, followed by fellow edge rusher Jonathon Cooper’s 7½. Meanwhile on the interior, Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers have combined for 11½ sacks, and seven additional defenders have at least two sacks each, giving them 11 in all with multiple sacks on the year.
“It’s not just one guy that you can finger point out,” QB Jordan Love said of game-planning against so many accomplished rushers in the starting front. “It’s a little bit different than a team that maybe only has one solid edge rusher that you make sure you get chips and lock down that side.
“You’ve got five guys who have all won at different times versus different teams. So we’ve just got to do a good job up front. I’ve got a lot of confidence in our O-line. They’ve been getting better and better as the season has gone on in pass pro. It will be a good test.”
That defensive front is among the best against the run, too, allowing the fewest yards per carry in the league at 3.7.
Behind that is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Pat Sutain II, a lockdown cornerback who’s likely headed for his third first-team All-Pro honor in five seasons.
Surtain doesn’t have any interceptions this season – he had four last year, returning one for a score – but he’s already tied his 2024 total with 11 pass breakups, keeping him on track to surpass his career high of 14 from his rookie year.
Whether or not the Broncos decide to have Surtain shadow one particular receiver, such as Christian Watson, will be watched closely come Sunday.
“I think he’s just a smart corner,” Love said. “His ability to read what the receivers are doing and just play that sticky coverage … there’s sometimes you see on film when he’s breaking on things before the receiver’s even breaking. I think it just goes into his film study, his knowledge of the game and his confidence in himself.”
