Green Bay Packers cannot look ahead. They cannot do it. It is easy for the Packers to do exactly that though. With Philadelphia and Dallas on the schedule next, it is very easy for the Packers to overlook the Denver Broncos. They’re 0-2 to start the season, and people are down on the Broncos thus far. They still have a kick-ass pass rush and they’re coached by Vic Fangio who has given Aaron Rodgers’ fits throughout the years when he was the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. But the reason why Denver is 0-2 has to do with Joe Flacco at quarterback who looks over-the-hill and not an NFL quarterback. Packers need to get ahead early and push the tempo because if they let Denver hang around, this could be trouble.

Three Storylines I Care About
1. Bakhtiari-Bulaga vs. Miller-Chubb: I said it on the podcast this week that the matchup between David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga vs Von Miller and Bradley Chubb is like a big-time WWE Tag Team battle. Think like the New Age Outlaws taking on Kane and the Undertaker. Can the Packers win this game without the offensive line playing well? Probably. But Miller and Chubb can definitely impact the game and try to make Rodgers’ life miserable. Miller created all sorts of havoc the last time the Packers-Broncos played in Denver.

2. Packers defense needs to bully Flacco: Packers need to make some plays off Flacco. That’s not a hope, it’s a must-have in this game. He is not a good quarterback and plays like a statue out there. Jaire Alexander said to the media this week that he needs to come down with some of the potential dropped interceptions he’s had this year. Sunday would be a perfect time to start making those kinds of plays. Packers secondary does not have an interception in the first three quarters of either ball game through two games. Don’t be surprised if the Packers pass rush gets to Flacco as well and causes a fumble or two.

3. The Great Offense Reinvention Part III – Even though Denver has a good defense, Packers will need to have a good offensive day, or the media will be down their throats next week saying there’s a lot of the same things going on in Green Bay. It’s a false narrative being created by people who do not understand the teams the Packers played thus far. Even though Denver’s pass rush is elite, the rest of their defense is not. They can make some work in the middle of the field and especially on the outside. Do not be surprised if the Aaron Jones wheel route comes back, or a verticals play.

Don’t Sleep on Em
Jake Kumerow: The Trevor Davis deal means that players bump up the depth chart, and one of those guys should be Jake Kumerow. With Denver’s inability to do much on the outside, I would not be shocked if Rodgers goes for a pop play with Kumerow and tries to hit on a big gain. Kumerow proved he can be an NFL wide receiver last year with a big game against the New York Jets. Now, he needs to show he can do it versus a fully-stacked roster.

Prediction
On the podcast, I predicted a score that I wrote last week here, so, I’ll change it up a little bit. I have the Packers winning this football game. The lookahead is possible, but this team seems very focused compared to years past. Rodgers ends up having a bigger day than expected, defense forces Flacco into some turnovers and Packers roll in this one. It will look closer than the game actually was for the Packers. Green Bay 23 Denver 14

Charlie.