Denver's Defense Is Another Monster Altogether

The Green Bay Packers wounded the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but they have a tough test against the Denver Broncos before they can deliver the kill shot next Saturday.

The Broncos are the 1-seed in the AFC and won't be an easy opponent for the Packers. A win over Green Bay can clinch a playoff spot for Sean Payton's team, and Denver would love to get that win over one of the NFC's best.

Denver's greatest strength is its defense, and it might be the best in the NFL.

The Bears offered Matt LaFleur's side of the ball a challenging matchup thanks to their ballhawking tendencies, but Denver's D is another monster altogether. But if the Packers win, and the offense looks good doing so, it'll be a good test for the rest of the NFL season and the playoffs.

So, how do Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense match up against the Mile High squad?

Denver's defensive coordinator and former head coach Vance Joseph leads its defense. He's a respected defensive mind who could earn another head-coaching stint after this season and is the architect of a truly elite unit.

Like the Bears, Denver keeps winning in one-score games, with eight of their wins and both of their losses in tight contests. Bo Nix holds the record for most fourth-quarter comebacks over his first two seasons with eight. Like the Bears, this team is capable of emerging from close games bloody and victorious.

Of particular note is Denver's massive fourth-quarter comeback against the New York Giants on October 19, where the offense scored 33 fourth-quarter points en route to a 33-32 win.

Unlike the Bears, Denver isn't reliant on turnovers. They're toward the bottom of the league in that metric. Subtract Chicago's takeaways, and the defense isn't great. Denver's is consistently dangerous.

Per ESPN, Denver leads the league in multiple categories, including sacks (55), QB hits (120), and sack percentage (10.9). Their pass rush is a multi-headed hydra led by Nik Bonitto, who is currently fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting odds. Denver is third in yards per game (282) and fourth in points per game (18.1).

Denver is best against the run, second with 89 yards per game, but they're no slouch against the pass, either. They're 10th in passing yards per game (193 yards), and cornerback Pat Surtain II is the league's reigning Defensive Player of the Year. They also have a deadly safety in Talanoa Hufanga.

Not that it's the most scholarly metric. Still, everywhere you look at the top fan voting for the Pro Bowl, you'll find plenty of Denver players.

Unlike against Chicago, simply minimizing turnovers won't be enough to win. Jordan Love is one of the best QBs against the blitz, and he's been great at avoiding sacks. However, two of his most difficult games came against the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, two of the league's most fearsome fronts.

Love will need to work his magic to stay afloat against creative pressure attacks from all angles, and the offensive line will need to be at its best.

Thankfully, Green Bay's offensive line is trending upward after a rough start.

Zach Tom has been playing healthy after being roughed up early this season, and it's elevating the entire group.

Likewise, the interior line has greatly improved, with Banks also looking better now that he's settled in. Sean Rhyan's move to center and Anthony Belton's move to guard have improved Green Bay's pass protection and run blocking.

They'll have their toughest taste of the season against Denver, and Rasheed Walker is coming off a tough showing against Chicago. Denver's front is both tough to run on and gets to the quarterback more than any other. Sunday's primetime battle will be won in the trenches.

In Green Bay's favor, Denver runs Cover-0 more than anyone in the league, and Love has had the most success against man defenses. Christian Watson has returned and remade after missing the first half of the season and is playing his best football yet. Chicago left single coverage on Watson multiple times, and it almost looked like Watson was cheating, so soundly did he defeat his coverage.

Luke Musgrave is also seeing more play as a downfield, man-beating threat. Making the most of those one-on-one matchups and letting Love do what he does best will keep the Packers on top.

Jayden Reed returned last week and was a major part of the game plan, and that should only increase this Sunday. If Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, and Matthew Golden are fully healthy and can add to the mix, all the better.

Surtain is still an elite corner but missed time with a torn pectoral and is having a comparatively down season. If the offensive line can be stout and Love can attack the air the way he has been, Green Bay's offense matches up against Denver's defense as well as anyone.

The Packers just fought their way to the top of the NFC North, but they'll need a victory over the AFC's best to remain on top. Denver's defense is a juggernaut, and this matchup could even be a Super Bowl preview. Yet Jordan Love and the offense are impressing every week, and there's a clear path to victory.