The 11-2 Denver Broncos play the 9-3 Green Bay Packers in Week 15. The former is the No. 1 seed in the AFC, while the latter is the No. 2 seed in the NFC. This had the makings of a game-of-the-year finalist. Keyword: Had. With Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey questionable this week, the Packers’ defensive line will be too much to overcome for the Broncos’ offensive line. McGlinchey will be out. Or he’ll be playing injured. Just crown the Packers now.
The Broncos Win if the Offense Line Contains Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary
If McGlinchey is out, this will get ugly. Even if Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles contains EDGE (4-3 DE) Rashan Gary, No. 38 in PFSN’s EDGE Impact Score, fellow EDGE (4-3 DE) Micah Parsons will get loose against a double team of Quinn Meinerz and a backup right tackle. Parsons, No. 5 in PFSN’s EDGE Impact Score, is that good. He’s played on 630 defensive snaps, totaling 12.5 sacks, 26 QB Hits, 39 total tackles, and 12 tackles for loss.
And with Bolles on Gary, and a double team on Parsons, the Packers’ interior defensive linemen are left on islands against a backup left guard and newly extended center Luke Wattenberg. Now, the Broncos’ running back has to step up in the pocket to pass protect — without getting pushed back into Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. It’s all too much to overcome for the Broncos’ offensive line. Even if McGlinchey plays, he won’t be 100%. He didn’t practice on Friday.
The Broncos Lose if the Defense Can’t Stop Jordan Love From establishing the Pass
The Packers’ offense, though, is No. 12 in passing yards per game (223.2) and No. 14 in rushing yards per game (117.2). That’s borderline elite in both categories. In a passing league, pick offense over defense. So, it’s futile that the Broncos’ defense allows the ninth-fewest passing yards per game and the second-fewest rushing yards per game. Packers QB Jordan Love has thrown two-plus touchdowns and totaled a 105-plus passer rating in three of his past five games.
The Broncos’ defense, though, allows the fourth-fewest points per game, while the Packers’ offense is No. 10 in points per game. An unstoppable force meets an immovable object. All told, it’s going to come down to red zone efficiency.
Prediction: Packers 24–12
The Broncos won’t score a touchdown in Week 15. We predicted the Las Vegas Raiders would score one touchdown last week as well — and the Raiders did while the game was competitive.