Mile High Roundtable: Broncos at Packers | Week 3

Khalid Alshami (@KhalidHAlshami) 1-1: Heading into Green Bay after dropping the matchup with Chicago in heartbreaking fashion is not a recipe I want any part of if I'm the Broncos. The defense played well against a subpar signal-caller in Mitchell Trubisky, but Aaron Rodgers is still among the league's best. With Denver failing to generate much pressure in either of their first games, the only way they win is if that changes. The best left tackle in football protects Rodgers for what it's worth. The Broncos' offense has shown glimpses and Joe Flacco has made some throws that only a handful of guys can make, but the unit has been suspect, while Garett Bolles racks up penalties he doesn't believe he's committing. Royce Freeman may cut further into Philip Lindsay's workload in this one as well after a strong performance against the Bears.

Pick: Packers 23, Broncos 15

Josh Carney (@JCarney_Sports) 1-1: At some point, the Broncos’ pass-rushing tandem of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb has to get going. Fortunately for Denver, this week that duo gets to take turns rushing against former teammate Billy Turner, who has been dreadful upfront protecting Aaron Rodgers this season. With a reinvigorated pass rush, Denver should be able to hold Green Bay’s attack in check. However, the Packers have a shiny new defense at their disposal and have put the clamps on opponents so far this season. This has the makings of an ugly one, one that Denver has to find a way to win. They won’t.

Pick: Packers 20, Broncos 12

Carl Dumler (@CarlDumlerMHH) 0-2: The hole isn’t so deep that the Broncos cannot climb out of it quite yet but it is getting close. Green Bay isn’t usually known as a great place to turn the ship around. The Packers bring one of the most underrated defenses in all of football, and of course, Rodgers at QB. The Broncos are starting to show signs the run game is ready to take off and I think this is one where they have over 150 yards rushing. Defensively, Denver does enough to contain the Packers' offense for most of the game but unfortunately a late score by the Packers puts them over the top.

Pick: Packers 20, Broncos 17

Thomas Hall (@ThomasHallNFL) 1-1: The Broncos are on an upward trend even though they are 0-2. Can they translate that momentum to a win? It will be tough on the road in Green Bay. Denver's first two losses have come at the hands of QBs who are getting the ball out quickly, but Aaron Rodgers' time to throw is almost the slowest in the NFL this season. This could play into the hands of the Broncos' defense and could be the catalyst that gets the team its first win. The Broncos will put up a good fight, but being on the road will prove too much of an obstacle.

Pick: Packers 17, Broncos 13

Chad Jensen (@ChadNJensen) 0-2: My head tells me no, my heart tells me yes. Despite the Broncos holding the NFL's longest current losing streak (six games, counting 2018), I'm picking them again this week and here's why. This should be a 1-1 squad, and the NFL agrees, after admitting to the Broncos that the bad roughing-the-passer foul on Bradley Chubb last week that gave a desperate Bears offense 15 free yards with precious little time was "dead wrong". Meanwhile, the Broncos have already been through the refiner's fire with two really stiff matchups to open this season. Adversity has already shaped this squad into a sharp weapon ready to be pointed at someone and the Packers scheduled their practices this week with an eye toward next Thursday night's game vs. Philadelphia. Are the Packers overlooking the Broncos? Maybe. Denver has been thrown for a loop, no doubt, but there have been so many odd, outlier-type situations thus far that frankly aren't likely to continue repeating themselves. Von Miller traditionally shines vs. Aaron Rodgers and I don't expect that to change this week. The Broncos play smothering defense, stuffing the run on first and second down with Todd Davis back in the fold, and the offense finds a way to punch Mike Pettine's squad in the mouth, especially on the ground, sending the Packers reeling. This game will come down to the final possession and I've got the Broncos coming out on top.

Pick: Broncos 19, Packers 17

Bold prediction: Noah Fant finally has a big game and hauls in his first career touchdown catch. Von Miller has a multi-sack game.

Trevor Judge (@TrevorJudge) 0-2: Okay, so admittedly, I’m 0-2 this season on Broncos picks. The Broncos have somehow never won at Lambeau so that alone makes them a tough bet this week. Yes, it’s looking like they’ll get some reinforcements back from injury this week. Yes, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense hasn’t looked great. But I can’t envision a scenario where Green Bay doesn’t dink and dunk their way down the field with quick passes just like Oakland and Chicago did on this Broncos' defense. On the other side of the ball, the Packers' defense has looked much improved through two games and will make it difficult for Joe Flacco to get the ball downfield. I think we see a similar game to what we saw in Week 1 with the Packers coming out on top. But I really hope I end up going 0-3 on picks.

Pick: Packers 24, Broncos 16

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Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) 0-2: There's nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal — a wounded team, in this case — backed into a corner. Such is where the Broncos find themselves, facing an 0-3 start to the season and, historically, almost-certain playoff contention elimination. This is where we learn what they're made of and how much meddle they possess. Do they sport enough intestinal fortitude to upset Aaron Rodgers and Co. at Lambeau or will they wilt like the previous outfits under Vance Joseph? The former. Denver's defense will play lights out football, smothering Rodgers, while Joe Flacco converts red zone opportunities into touchdowns, not field goals, as the offense begins finding its groove. It won't be pretty, and rarely is, but the Broncos will keep their 2019 campaign alive with a desperately needed victory.

Pick: Broncos 17, Packers 14

Bold prediction: The Broncos hold Rodgers without a TD pass.

Nick Kendell (@NickKendellMHH) 0-2: Denver starts off the season 0-2 for the first time in a long time, coming off one of the most disheartening losses in a while. Blame the players, blame the coaches, blame the refs, it doesn't matter. Denver is 0-2. While still having some playoff hopes, an 0-3 start might as well be a death toll for the Broncos going to the playoffs. Heading into Lambeau and a -7.5 spread, it will take some luck for Denver to pull out the W. The Broncos will need to do a better job on first and second down to force the Packers in 3rd-&-longs to unlock the pass rush, but really it is the Packers' defense as the story the first two weeks. With the additions of Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith, along with studs such as Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, and others, this Packers' defense is the best in a while. Denver absolutely is on the up and up and could be contenders in a few seasons, but the Packers are contenders today. At Lambeau, they will be too much for Denver as Denver loses the turnover battle by three (bold take) and loses the game.

Pick: Packers 23, Broncos 13

Bob Morris (@BobMorrisSports) 0-2: I do see the Broncos giving the Packers a run and, with one starter (possibly two() on defense expected to return, should be able to generate more of a pass rush this time. However, I don't think the Broncos have enough firepower to match the Packers on offense.

Pick: Packers 20, Broncos 13

Bold prediction: Royce Freeman has his first 100-yard rushing game of the season. Freeman has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the first two games of the season and he's had a couple of long runs. It wouldn't surprise me if he busts a pair of long runs against the Packers and turns in his best game as a Bronco.

Lance Sanderson (@SandersonMHH) 1-1: The Broncos are heading into Lambeau Field, a place they've never won at. They will leave still with a zero in the win column, but I do expect a defensive bounce-back against this Packers' offense. Aaron Rodgers could pick this team apart in the passing game, but he is holding onto the ball a heck of a lot longer than Mitchell Trubisky and Derek Carr did over the first two weeks. This week, the Broncos rack up four total sacks, but still can't get the offense rolling.

Pick: Packers 24, Broncos 16

Erick Trickel (@ErickTrickel) 0-2: Denver is winless when taking on the Packers in Wisconsin. There are a lot of rough spots on this team that the Broncos need to fix. I do think we see improvement, but it hasn't been enough time yet to get it all fixed. Having Todd Davis back and possibly Bryce Callahan will really help the Broncos defense, but they stay winless in Wisconsin.

Pick: Packers 24, Broncos 17

Bold prediction: Denver's defense gets going with a five-sack game and manages two takeaways as they keep the game close. However, towards the end of the game, Aaron Rodgers works his magic and scores the game-winning touchdown with right around two minutes left in the game, and shows the lack of big playmaking ability from the Broncos' offense.

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