Packers have obvious blueprint to craft the gameplan required to challenge a dangerous Broncos’ defense
Green Bay Packers have a big game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
The Green Bay Packers’ offense will face a big challenge on Sunday. Under coordinator Vance Joseph, the Broncos’ defense is second in success rate, seventh in EPA/play, seventh in dropback EPA, and 14th in rush EPA this season.
While the Packers have been one of the elite offenses in football this year, and in particular over the past few weeks, head coach Matt LaFleur will have a challenging week to gameplan for that matchup.
We talked about it to NFL writer Adam Zientek, who helps our Denver Broncos’ coverage at A to Z Sports, to find a path for the Packers’ win.
The Broncos have one of the most prolific defenses of the year. How is it possible to effectively attack them?
Quick passes to avoid pressure up front is the easiest answer here. The Denver Broncos lead the league in sacks and get pressures at a rate like no one else. With edge defenders Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper wreaking havoc and the defensive line feasting on opposing offensive linemen, the easiest way to counteract the stout pressure is to get the ball out quickly. Establishing the run early will help as well to keep the defense on their toes and set up some playaction looks. In the Broncos’ two losses, the Indianapolis Colts were able to run effectively and the Los Angeles Chargers were able to use some motion and quick reads from Justin Herbert to take down the Broncos.
Bo Nix is 30th in success rate so far this season. What’s happening to his play-by-play consistency?
Anything outside of the fourth quarter is garbage. That’s a bit much and I am kidding, but it felt that way for a large portion of the season. It just seemed the offense couldn’t get anything going until they had to, and that’s when things started to click. Nix is great under pressure — not only in the statistical sense of people rushing in on him, but game pressure.
In the biggest moments, Nix shines. But when there’s not as much pressure, the team struggled to get things going on offense through the majority of the season. Whether it’s screen passes, not connecting on deep shots, or being too conservative with the play-calling, the team understands they need to start better in games and not wait until the fourth quarter. To the team’s credit, it’s been starting hot the past two games with points on the opening drives of both contests.
The Broncos are similar to the Packers in a sense that they don’t have a dominant offensive weapon. Who are the pieces that Jeff Hafley has to be more careful to scheme against?
Always be on the lookout for Courtland Sutton, the team’s best weapon on offense. He’s a premiere receiver in the league and deserves his respect. However, the team has adjusted in games where Sutton was shut down by utilizing playmakers like Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. Franklin is a top option for Nix when Sutton gets clamped, so perhaps shutting down those two receivers will go a long way toward having success.
Head coach Sean Payton also adores tight end Evan Engram and has been trying to get him more active in the passing game. What’s more, the team lost J.K. Dobbins, but still has a great running back in rookie RJ Harvey. While he’s not putting up the numbers that Dobbins did, he’s a threat both in the backfield and in the passing game. In fact, Harvey has the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie running back in team history, definitely a name to watch out for.
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