Even the most ardent Denver Broncos optimists might have to cross their fingers behind their backs if they said they predicted a 19-point victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. It’s safe to say the Broncos beat Green Bay in a game no one saw coming.
The Broncos and Packers both brought undefeated records to Sports Authority field on the night that saw the team induct owner Pat Bowlen into its Ring of Honor and recognize members of the 1997 team that brought Denver its first Super Bowl victory. Both those events were honored by this current batch of Broncos, who put together their finest two-way effort on the year.
Denver dominated on both sides of the ball. While Peyton Manning and company racked up 500 total yards on offense, the defense limited Aaron Rodgers and crew to just 140 yards net. Rodgers had 77 yards passing, knocked down to 50 after three sacks accounted for 27 yards.
The Broncos earned 10 more first downs (24 to 14) and were 6-for-12 on third down, while Green Bay was just 2-for-8. Denver ran 63 plays to Green Bay’s 48 and Denver controlled the ball by a near seven-minute margin.
Not only did Denver totally dominate in a game that pitted the NFL’s two best scoring defenses, they did so by going away from their bread and butter. Wade Phillips’ defense was aggressive, but not overly so until the game was effectively in the bag. Manning, meanwhile, got his tight ends heavily involved in the game for the first time all year and connected on numerous slants and crossing routes.
As the game unfolded, the MHS team and the greater-Denver media couldn’t believe what they were seeing. We’ve gathered some of their best observations here.
The mood before the game?
After the #Broncos just got by the #Browns, the nation didn't think this was a very good undefeated team. What a difference two weeks make.
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) November 2, 2015
The biggest truth of the game…
Of all the choices this week, never heard one prognosticator say, "it'll be the Broncos in an easy win." So much for us experts, huh?
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) November 2, 2015
The defense did enough, but not everything for a change…
#Broncos are 6-0 because defense has gotten 27 sacks and 17 turnovers thru 6 games…
Tonight, 1 sack and 0 turnovers & still dominating.
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) November 2, 2015
Didn’t Green Bay also have a bye week?
https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/661025701525483520
The tight ends showed up, finally…
Broncos TEs tonight: 105 yards on 6 receptions. Green 3 for 61; Daniels 3 for 44.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 2, 2015
Aaron Rodgers did what?
76 yards passing? More like Discount Half-Check.
— Robin Carlin (@robincarlin) November 2, 2015
A crazy stat to consider…
#Broncos are on the verge of 7-0 and Manning has at least one interception in 7 straight games…
Who could have predicted that?
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) November 2, 2015
There are new stars in Denver…
https://twitter.com/PeterBurnsESPN/status/661039608323375105
And the craziest observation of the night?
Is it just me, or am I the only one surprised that there has yet to be a single #Manning or #Rodgers commercial during #SNFundefeated
— Daren Craig (@TheeDarenCraig) November 2, 2015