GAMEDAY Open thread/Live blog: Broncos at Packers | Week 3
The Denver Broncos have never won at Lambeau Field...I just yawned typing that for the umpteenth time.
Trust me, the Broncos aren't so much worried about that historical wrinkle, but rather the fact that they're 0-2 and running out of time to get on the winning track. Denver's path does't get much easier with the 2-0 Green Bay Packers but no team picks its schedule.
The Broncos will have to play complementary football and not give the ball away. All the statistical outliers that have cursed this team through Weeks 1 and 2 will have to return to the mean if this team is going to win on the road.
That means notching a few sacks and taking the ball away. That means improving on the 2-for-7 red zone efficiency the Broncos have posted offensively.
And that means cutting out the penalties on offense.
Will it be done? Only time will tell. But as you all know, I picked the Broncos to defy history and the oddsmakers and win today.
Meanwhile, join us as we live-blog and discuss DENvsGB here in our weekly GAMEDAY Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom righthand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.
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Inactives
Analysis: Todd Davis being up means Alexander Johnson is down. Charge it to the game. Eventually, the Broncos need their $7 million cornerback on the field. But it won't be this week.
First quarter
Broncos win toss. Defer.
Aaron Rodgers will open the game.
Rodgers is holding onto that ball..
Rodgers gets Miller on the hard-count. With the free play, goes over the top of Kareem Jackson for the 40-yard touchdown to Valdes-Scantling.
Packers go 75 yards in five plays, take 7-0 lead. Welp.
Diontae Spencer returns ensuing kickoff 59 yards. Sets Broncos' offense up in plus-territory.
Broncos go three-and-out. Two run-stuffs. Flacco sacked, though he had plenty of time to throw on third down. Punt.
Broncos finally get a stop on third down. Only due to Rodgers over-throwing his target. Punt.
Packers run into Spencer's fair catch on ensuing punt. Gives Broncos additional 15 yards.
Broncos offense finding its rhythm with Lindsay's phenomenal burst.
First quarter ends with the Broncos threatening on Green Bay's 4-yard line.
Second quarter
Lindsay pounds it through from two yards out. Broncos tie the game at 7-7.
Derek Wolfe injured on Jamal Williams' 12-yard run. Jewell flagged for facemask.
Wolfe carted off. Looks like a lower leg.
Fangio throws the red challenge flag on Davante Adams' 22-yard reception. Broncs lose challenge.
Wolfe has been ruled OUT with an an ankle.
Bausby with a great pass breakup on third down. Packers forced to attempt FG.
Crosby is good from 42 yards. Packers re-take lead. 10-7.
Refs take a Freeman TD off the board on a ridiculous ticky-tack holding oul on Emmanuel Sanders. Egregious.
Refs taking that TD off the board haunts the Broncos, who stall in the red zone following the egregiously poor flag. Flacco sacked on third down.
Za'Darius and Preston Smith now each have a sack. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb? Still zero FOR THE YEAR.
McManus pounds it through to tie the game 10-10.
Broncos force a three-and-out. Bausby with another PBU on third down.
Packers punt.
On ensuing play, Flacco hit has he throws. Fumble. Recovered by Green Bay. Wilkinson exploited by P. Smith.
Rodgers in business.
Packers capitalize on the takeaway. Aaron Jones squirts through for a TD.
Packers re-take lead 17-10.
Broncos go three-and-out on ensuing possession.
Rodgers will get one minute from his own 10-yard line to try and create something before the half.
Nothing doing for Green Bay. Kneel it out.
End of half.
Third quarter
Fant fumbles on Broncos' opening possession. The floodgates are opening and it ain't good for Denver.
Ensuing possession. Rodgers goes up top to the fullback Dan Vitale for a 27-yard gain, making Josey Jewell look the fool.
Two plays later, Aaron Jones scores. Packers extend lead to two touchdowns.
24-10.
Broncos go 75 yards on 12 plays, capped off by a phenomenal 4th-&-goal run by Phillip Lindsay, to squirt through for six. Dalton Risner helped make that TD, by pulling Lindsay into the end zone.
McManus doinks the goll-darned extra point.
Broncos trail 24-16. Because Broncos.
Broncos force the Packers off the field in three plays.
Diontae Spencer makes a poor decision to return a punt from inside the 5-yard line, and Trey Marshall promptly gets flagged for a block in the back, pinning Broncos deep.
Flacco hits Courtland Sutton for 52-yard reception.
Flacco throws an incomprehensible interception in plus territory. Ronald Leary flagged for holding on the same play. His fifth holding foul of the season.
That was the third giveaway by the Broncos offense thus far. You can't win on the road when you turn it over like that.
Packers forced to punt on ensuing possession. Broncos get lucky.
Lindsay picks up five yards on first down to end the third period.
Fourth quarter
Broncos forced to punt back to Rodgers.
Packers offense moving.
Josey Jewell sidelined with a leg injury.
Packers get stopped finally on third down but get enough yardage to attempt the Crosby field goal from 41 yards out.
Field goal is good. Packers extend lead 27-16.
Broncos play absolutely terrible offense on last-ditch possession. Ball game when Flacco is sacked on 4th-&-17.
Packers try to add points under two minutes. Crosby misses from 45.
Flacco sacked on Denver's final play from scrimmage. End of game.
27-16 Packers.
Broncos fall to 0-3.
