Jordan Love provides a major positive, Packers uncover a concerning issue, and more takeaways from preseason win over the Broncos
Green Bay beat the Broncos in Denver in its second preseason game, which had significant action from the starters.
The Green Bay Packers played their second preseason game Friday night, a 33-13 win over the Denver Broncos, and this one carried a different weight than last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams deployed their starters for a significant amount of snaps, giving the contest a regular season feel from the opening play.
The Packers took advantage on offense, capping a long opening drive with a Jordan Love touchdown pass to running back MarShawn Lloyd. But while the starting offense flashed, several concerns emerged that could follow Green Bay into September.
Jordan Love’s command at the line of scrimmage
The biggest positive from the Broncos game was Love’s ability to process and adjust at the line of scrimmage. On the touchdown to Lloyd, Love identified a Denver blitz pre-snap, made the protection adjustment, and sent Lloyd on a Texas route. The Broncos had to adjust their own play, but it was too late. Easy throw, touchdown. This is exactly what head coach Matt LaFleur has praised throughout training camp.
“He’s got to be the best I’ve been around in terms of protections and adjustments, and rarely does he get out-schemed,” LaFleur had said on NFL Network. “It’s pretty remarkable. And that was all formed for him coming into the league. I think having the opportunity to sit back, learn from Aaron [Rodgers], and watch him do it at the level he did was invaluable for him.”
The Packers need Love to display that command consistently throughout the regular season, and Friday’s showing was an encouraging sign.
Matthew Golden earns Jordan Love’s trust
Another standout from the game was wide receiver Matthew Golden, the Packers’ first-round pick from last year’s draft. With Jayden Reed not playing, Green Bay leaned on 12 personnel, and Golden lined up alongside Christian Watson as the starting receivers on the outside.
Golden finished with one reception for 19 yards, but the context made it significant. The catch came on a fourth-down play with the starting offense on the field, and Golden beat elite cornerback Patrick Surtain II to convert. More important than beating a top-tier corner, though, was the fact that Love targeted Golden in that high-leverage moment. That trust from the quarterback and coaching staff could be massive for Golden’s development.
As a rookie last season, Golden didn’t produce much statistically, but his lack of production was tied more to a shortage of targets than an inability to perform when given opportunities. If he can continue proving himself as a reliable option in critical situations, Golden’s production should expand considerably in 2026.
Pass rush without Micah Parsons is a real problem
The most concerning takeaway from Friday was Green Bay’s inability to generate pressure. The Packers won’t have edge rusher Micah Parsons for the first month or so of the regular season, and his absence was glaring against Denver.
Lukas Van Ness had some decent moments, but the production from the rest of the group was lacking. Barryn Sorrell has been solid against the run, but he hasn’t provided the pass-rush juice the Packers need. Collin Oliver didn’t generate much either. Even when Green Bay dialed up blitzes and disguised pressures, getting to the quarterback proved difficult, and the secondary felt the stress.
Brenton Cox should probably be getting snaps over Sorrell at this point, as he has shown more ability to collapse the pocket. Until Parsons returns, the Packers need every available pass rusher who can win one-on-ones.
LaFleur’s 12 personnel usage seems over the top
The other notable development was LaFleur’s commitment to 12 personnel, even in circumstances that didn’t seem to warrant it. Jayden Reed’s absence explains some of the heavy two-tight-end usage, but Green Bay has capable depth at wide receiver with Savion Williams, Skyy Moore, J. Michael Sturdivant, and Bo Melton. LaFleur chose not to lean on that group.
What makes the decision even more puzzling is that the Packers’ top two tight ends, Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, were both out recovering from injuries. Green Bay ran 12 personnel with Josh Whyle and Drake Dabney as the starters anyway. LaFleur was willing to keep backup tight ends on the field rather than shift to 11 personnel, a formation the Packers were far more effective running last season.
This has been a consistent trend throughout training camp and now into the preseason. If the Packers don’t plan to add pieces to the tight end room, the heavy reliance on 12 personnel is surprising given what the roster currently offers at the position, and at wide receiver in comparison. It will be worth watching whether LaFleur adjusts as the regular season approaches or doubles down on what has been a less productive formation for the offense.
