The Green Bay Packers extended their winning streak to four and took over first place in the NFC North last Sunday with a hard-fought 28-21 win at Lambeau Field over the Chicago Bears, who they'll see again next week in the Windy City.
But before that rematch with the Bears, the Packers will look to up that winning streak to five in a high-profile Week 15 matchup on the road with the red-hot Denver Broncos, who've won 10 straight and are currently in possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC at 11-2. Dating back to last season, Denver has also won 11 in a row at home. So, this will certainly be one of the toughest tests Matt LaFleur & Co. face all season.
And the Packers will be forced to take this test, which could legitimately be a Super Bowl 60 preview, with some issues at running back, as Josh Jacobs continues to fight swelling in the left knee he first injured against the New York Giants back in Week 11 and forced him out of action in Green Bay's Week 12 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
After experiencing some discomfort last week against the Bears, the three-time Pro Bowler underwent an MRI on Monday. And while the results came back clear, he still sat out of practice both Wednesday and Thursday, which obviously raised a few eyebrows, but did return on Friday as a limited participant. And while the team has yet to confirm anything at the time of this writing, Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Jacobs, who is officially listed as questionable, is expected to suit up against the Broncos.
This is obviously great news for the Packers, especially seeing as how backup Emanuel Wilson was added to the injury report with an illness on Saturday and is viewed as a genuine game-time decision. As such, with Jacobs and Wilson obviously both not at 100 percent, Green Bay has elevated Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster.
Josh Jacobs has dominated Denver over the years
If Jacobs does indeed take the field, this will mark his first matchup against the Broncos in a Packers uniform. But he's obviously no stranger to taking on Denver, as he spent the first five years of his NFL career in the AFC West with the Las Vegas Raiders.
And Green Bay will certainly be hoping the 27-year-old can perform against the Broncos wearing the Green & Gold like he did when wearing the Silver & Black.
In eight matchups against Denver in those five years (he missed two games), Jacobs surpassed the century mark four times, averaged 96.1 rushing yards per game overall, and scored nine touchdowns, the first two of which came in his very first professional regular-season game back in 2019.
If the Packers can get that from Jacobs against a Broncos defense that's allowed the second-fewest rushing yards in the entire league thus far this season, they'll be absolutely thrilled. And one would assume plenty of fantasy football managers around the world wouldn't mind seeing him have a good game either.
Kickoff for this highly anticipated Packers-Broncos matchup is set for 4:25 p.m. Eastern/1:25 p.m. Pacific from Empower Field at Mile High.