The Broncos stayed unbeaten with a big home win over the Packers
The Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers were both undefeated as they prepared to do battle on Sunday Night Football from Mile High Stadium in Week 8. Peyton Manning and the Broncos had looked like one of the shakier unbeaten team in the league while Aaron Rodgers and the Packers had been impressive in their 6-0 start. Given that, you would have thought that Green Bay would’ve had an edge. However, as soon as Manning came out looking the best he has all season throwing the ball and as soon as Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson started moving the ball on the ground, the Packers were in trouble.
Denver laid an unavoidable beatdown on the Packers on Sunday night. Hillman and Anderson combined for three rushing touchdowns and Manning threw for over 300 yards for the game. However, the real crushing blow for Green Bay was the Denver pass-rush. The front-seven of the Broncos got pressure on Rodgers for the entirety of the game, not giving him enough time to make the plays he wanted, sacking him several times, and even forcing a fumble that led to a safety. The Packers could never mount an answer to the Broncos’ rolling offense because of the Broncos pass-rush. In the end, it was all Denver everything as the Broncos stayed undefeated with a huge statement win.
Three stars
C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman needed to show up in this game and they did in a big way. The two backs combined for 33 carries for 161 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Despite throwing a pick and not throwing a touchdown, Peyton Manning looked like the Peyton of old. His throws simply looked better consistently and he finished the night with 340 yards through the air.
I realize this isn’t even a set unit of players, but the Broncos pass-rush deserves a star. They sacked Rodgers three times in this game and made his life incredibly difficult and, of course, forcing a key safety in the second half.
Highlights
Ronnie Hillman? More like Ronnie FastMan! Amiright? pic.twitter.com/eVu11zuyZo
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 2, 2015
#Broncos with their first 1st quarter #Touchdown this season! It only took seven games. #SNF #DENvsGB pic.twitter.com/oYl0kovlNB
— Larissa Liska (@LarissaLiska) November 2, 2015
The perfect Peyton Manning deep ball.
— NFL (@NFL) November 2, 2015
It's back. Like, really back.
And that means Demaryius feasts. #GBvsDEN https://t.co/1vwiuii8fi
Lacy @Lil_Eazy_Ana_42 with his second #Touchdown of season and first tonight for #Packers. #SNFundefeated #DENvsGB pic.twitter.com/20To1MKlvv
— Larissa Liska (@LarissaLiska) November 2, 2015
THIS is the C.J. Anderson we've been waiting for.
— NFL (@NFL) November 2, 2015
28-yard rushing TD with a jaw-dropping burst to boot. #GBvsDEN https://t.co/wONrkocOFL
That #Broncos safety was nuts, but it had been building. Pass rush relentless. (via @DantePakistan) https://t.co/4rMNUWksUW
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) November 2, 2015
Odds
Green Bay was favored by 2.5 points against the Broncos, a line that they failed to cover as they lost outright. With the Packers offense being held in check, the two teams also hit on the under 46 points.
Next Week
The Packers will be on the road once again next week in a matchup with another unbeaten team in the Carolina Panthers.
Denver will take their perfect record on the road next week as well as they go to take on the Indianapolis Colts