Here Are the Three Things That Mattered From Packers’ Victory Over Broncos

The Green Bay Packers trounced the Denver Broncos in a preseason game on Friday night. Nothing could be more irrelevant than the final score of 33-13.

However, two of the most important developments imaginable for the success of the upcoming season took place in Denver. They highlight our three postgame takeaways.

1. MarShawn Lloyd Snaps 1,000-Day Drought

Other than the return of Tucker Kraft, arguably nothing could be more important to the development of Green Bay’s offense than the emergence of MarShawn Lloyd.

A third-round pick in 2024, you know his story too well. He spent most of his first two seasons on injured reserve due to one injury or setback after another. Lloyd played in one game as a rookie and zero games last season.

Lloyd has had the football equivalent of perfect attendance this year. He didn’t miss a practice during the offseason and he hasn’t missed a practice during training camp. The more he’s practiced, questions about his availability have begun to take a back seat to questions about his ability.

Really, did anyone have the foggiest idea if Lloyd was any good? Talented, obviously. But good at football?

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) hands the ball off to running back Marshawn Lloyd at Denver. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Lloyd was good at Denver. The rushing numbers might not show it, with six carries for 17 yards, but the third-and-2 conversion in which he fought past cornerback Pat Surtain II is the type of play a running back has to make. That play set him up for his 11-yard touchdown catch from Jordan Love, with Lloyd posterizing Dondrea Tillman, who was as effective in coverage as either one of us.

Lloyd was the No. 1 read on the play, Love said.

“Man, that was great,” Love told reporters. “I think really the whole drive, he had some really good runs. Being able to cap it off with that touchdown catch was great. MarShawn’s journey, dealing with different injuries throughout preseason games and things like that, for him to be out there and be putting up plays and just be able to see him is great.

“I think he’s done a lot of good things all throughout camp. Just keep building on it.”

It was a big moment for Lloyd, as evidenced by his celebration. And for good reason. It was his first touchdown since USC’s loss at Oregon on Nov. 11, 2023. That was 1,014 days ago.

“It was special, it was fun. It was definitely fun,” he said. “It had been three years since I even touched the end zone. I’ve been in the end zone in practice but, in the game, it’s different. It was fun. They had their starters out there, so it was fun to get those good reps, just good reps. I enjoyed it.”

Without Lloyd, the Packers the past two seasons paired Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson. Essentially, they were the same running back. Now, the Packers will go into the season with Jacobs and Lloyd – just like they envisioned when they signed Jacobs and drafted Lloyd in 2024. Their different styles should open some new possibilities for an offense that needs to be much more productive than it was last year.

2. Nonexistent Pass Rush

There’s an elephant in the room that’s about as big as Lambeau Field.

Until Micah Parsons not only returns but returns to dominating form, who’s going to rush the passer?

The answer on Friday night, at least when the starters were in the game, is nobody.

Given plenty of time by his polished offensive line, Bo Nix was 6-of-9 passing for 76 yards. Facing Green Bay’s starting defense for two series, he led the Broncos to 10 points. On the opening series, which resulted in a touchdown, Nix converted a third-and-5 and a third-and-6 with downfield throws.

At one point, Lukas Van Ness had a one-on-one against a tight end and made no headway.

Van Ness has had some really good days at training camp. So has Brenton Cox. But the consistency hasn’t been there. To be sure, it will help when Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave – neither of whom played against Denver are on the field. Plus, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will dig into his bag of tricks.

But an elite edge pass rusher is one of the most important players in the sport. It’s why the Packers gave up so much draft capital, talent and money to acquire Parsons. At some point, Van Ness and Cox and Barryn Sorrell are going to have to make a play. When that moment comes, are they capable of making it?

3. Trey Smack Strikes Again

Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack (28) kicks a field goal in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After he missed so many kicks during the offseason practices and the start of training camp, it’s no wonder why general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur were cautiously optimistic about rookie kicker Trey Smack following the Pittsburgh game.

“Good performance from one day, right?” Gutekunst said this week.

Now, it’s good performances from two days.

Smack made all four field-goal attempts against the Broncos. That includes kicks of 51 and 59 yards. Counting the one that was nullified by a penalty last week, Smack is 8-of-8 during the preseason and 4-of-4 from 50-plus yards.

“Feel great but … he’s got to do it again,” LaFleur said after the game. “That’s life in the National Football League. You’re only as good as your last performance and he’s put two pretty darn good performances back-to-back. The talent’s there. He’s just got to continue to be consistent.”

When Smack was struggling on the practice field, special teams coordinator Cam Achord said he was more concerned about how the rookie performed in stadiums. Well, he went 6-of-7 at Lambeau Field on Family Night and is officially 7-of-7 in the preseason. That’s 13-of-14 – or 16-of-17 if you count extra-point attempts.

“I feel good,” he told reporters after the game. “I don’t want to get too high on it because I know I’ve got to stay locked in in this business and you can’t get complacent with yourself. So, just trying to improve every week.”

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