Peyton Manning (18) of the Denver Broncos smiles at fans while leaving the field after the game. The Denver Broncos played the Green Bay Packers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Nov. 1, 2015. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)
The best and worst from the Broncos’ 29-10 win over Green Bay in their Week 8 game on Sunday…
Manning up. So much for the demise of Peyton Manning. The QB threw short, medium and deep, completing 21-of-29 passes for 340 yards, an average of 11.7 yards per attempt. What a rush. With Denver’s offensive line opening holes like the 1997 Super Bowl team, C.J. Anderson rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries (7.2-yard average).
Shutdown D. By shutting out the Packers in the first quarter, the Broncos became the first team since the 2001 Steelers — and just the ninth team in history — to allow zero first-quarter points in its first seven games of the season.
Mr. Rodgers fails. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers, an early MVP candidate, was stuffed by Denver’s tenacious defense. Rodgers completed 14-of-22 passes, but netted only 77 yards and was sacked three times.
Hold your horses. Broncos left guard Max Garcia was called for back-to-back holding calls on a second-quarter drive, scuttling a march. He was replaced by Evan Mathis.
Green Bay slackers. The Packers’ defense gave up 500 yards of offense to Denver — 340 through the air and 160 on the ground. The Broncos also had the ball for 33 minutes, 27 seconds.
