Green Bay Packers: 5 games they must win in 2015

Whether it’s Peyton Manning or somebody else at quarterback, the Green Bay Packers will have their hands full when they travel to Denver in 2015. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Denver Broncos on the road

It really doesn’t matter whether Peyton Manning plays or not, going against the Denver Broncos on the road is going to be a huge challenge for the Green Bay Packers next season.

And it doesn’t matter whether they play them early or late in the season.

This will be a tough one … again, because Denver plays well at home and the Packers, for the most part, struggle on the road.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports photograph

If Aaron Rodgers and the Packers can get their running game going in this one, it could help their cause, but even more importantly, the Packers will have to bring their defense to have a shot against a team that always finds ways to score points.

And while they score points, one can also consider that Rodgers will once again face one of the top defenses on the road … not a good outlook.

Denver finished third overall in defense in 2014, coming in behind Seattle and Detroit. While the Packers beat the Lions at home in Week 17 and controlled the Championship Game against Seattle up until the final two minutes, the Packers have traditionally struggled against good defensive teams on the road.

All you have to do is look at the season-opener at Seattle, the Week 3 game at Detroit and the Week 15 game on the road at Buffalo in 2014.

This 2015 game at Denver might be one that is similar … of course much can happen from one season to the next, but as we stand and look at this game from this vantage point, the Packers will have to bring their A-game to have a shot at winning this one.

That’s what elevates it to a must-win in 2015.

Next: Number 3 top game the Packers must win in 2015