The Broncos defense is among the best in football.
Its leader, coordinator Vance Joseph, says Sunday is the group’s biggest challenge to date in 2025.
The Green Bay offense will undoubtedly look different if running back Josh Jacobs doesn’t play — he’s missed the first two days of practice this week with a knee injury — but it’s become one of the NFL’s most dangerous because of its balance.
There is not a singular player or pair of players to focus on, like Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers or Cincinnati receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Green Bay instead has a bevy of receivers that can make plays and a talented tight end in Luke Musgrave, in addition to Jacobs. Then, of course, the Packers have Jordan Love at the controls under center.
“It’s a really good group,” Joseph said. “They’ve got about five receivers that can really hurt you, and they’re all different. They have undersized guys with quickness, they have big guys with long speed, they have guys who are great route-runners. …
“It’s probably the best overall skill that we’ve played all year.”
That kind of balance shows through especially in key situations, like on third down when Joseph says Love is at his best.
“Even with their third-down numbers, it’s all like 14, 15, 16 catches (per receiver),” Joseph said. Really spread out. (Love) is doing a really good job of getting the ball to the open guy. It’s not one guy he’s forcing the ball to. So it’s tough to see who you can take away or who you can roll a coverage to. There’s not much of that on tape. It’s organic. It’s per read. It’s per concept. So you’ve got to play honest.”
Love has thrown 22 touchdowns against just four interceptions this season while being sacked just 18 times. Those numbers and a big dose of explosiveness put Love atop the NFL in estimated points added per play at 0.26, according to Sumer Sports data. That’s comfortably ahead of the next three in New England’s Drake Maye (0.22), Buffalo’s Josh Allen (0.22), and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (0.17).
“This young quarterback, when you watch him operate, especially on third downs, he’s getting in the right protections, the ball’s going to the right spot, the motions, the shifts, he’s in total control,” Joseph said. “When you watch the TV copy to hear the verbiage, it’s through him. Every game they’ve played this year, he’s right on. …
“He’s playing at a high level. He’s accurate, he’s making big plays, he’s staying aggressive — which is scary for a defense. His timing on big plays has killed defenses. It’s going to be a challenge for us to get him stopped.”
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