Fangio offers unique compliment to Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers: 'He's got athletic arrogance'

In the wake of their first 0-2 start in two decades, the road ahead doesn't get much easier for the Denver Broncos. Next up on the docket are the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

Few are expecting much from the Broncos in what will be the team's second road trip of this young season. The odds makers have the Packers as a 7.5-point favorite over the Broncos and one of the big reasons why is Aaron Rodgers.

Anyone who follows the NFL needs no introduction on Rodgers. He's a two-time NFL MVP, a former Super Bowl MVP and he's been elected to the Pro Bowl seven times since becoming a starting QB 11 years ago.

Head coach Vic Fangio knows Rodgers well. Fangio coordinated the Chicago Bears defense from 2015-18, facing Rodgers twice per year.

No game is ever out of reach with Rodgers calling the signals from under center. We've seen him lead the Packers back from insurmountable deficits, we've seen him make logic-defying throws and even beat the odds with a successful Hail Mary or two.

"He's got all the qualities to do that," Fangio said about Rodgers on Wednesday. "The arm strength, the quick release, command of the offense, scrambling ability, improvisation to make plays on the move — and he's got athletic arrogance, which is a compliment. He just thinks he can do it."

The great Henry Ford made famous the quote: 'Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right'.

Mindset and self-confidence are crucial components to success in every facet of life, but especially pro sports. For QBs, it starts with that self-confidence and everything grows out of that mindset.

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Rodgers has the audacity of self-belief. Or, as Fangio puts it, 'athletic arrogance'.

Rodgers will be a handful for the Broncos, especially at home in front of the Lambeau faithful, where he seems to operate on an entirely different level. It's not apples-to-apples, but the last time the Broncos faced Rodgers, the QB was completely smothered and held to the worst single-game performance in his career.

That came in Week 8 of 2015 in Denver and the Broncos emerged with their most dominant victory of the season, 29-10. It was a virtuoso performance by then-defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and the entire Broncos' defense.

A few players remain from that unit, including Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, Chris Harris, Jr. and Todd Davis. They understand the model.

Though he has his doubts that the Broncos will be able to duplicate it four years later and in Rodgers' house, Harris laid out what it'll take to beat the Packers again.

“We were able to play man-to-man and bring the heat every time," Harris said, reminiscing about the Broncos' last win over the Packers. "We can’t do that. It’s hard to do that now.”

It will be hard if the Packers attack the Broncos the way Denver's first two opponents have and Vic Fangio doesn't adjust how he calls the game. However, Fangio knows Rodgers well and is known for his savvy ability to make in-game adjustments to confound his opponents.

Time will tell the tale but right now, the Broncos are flying under the radar as enormous underdogs in Week 3. The expectations are low, which is usually when guys like Miller and Harris find a way to remind everyone why their respective trophy case is replete with Pro Bowl nods, MVP awards and a World Championship.

Don't count the Broncos out just yet. Matt LaFleur has never really had to game-plan for Vic Fangio's defense. And with the Broncos' defense still yet to post a sack or take the ball away, the law of averages is on their side.

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.