Bo Nix's ascension gives Packers a hidden advantage for 2024

The Green Bay Packers made the trip to the Mile High City for the second time in less than a year, and last season, a loss in Denver seemingly sparked the Packers as a whole. The Packers left Denver with a rough 19-17 loss, but they ended up winning eight of their next 12 games and Jordan Love really went on a heater.

Perhaps the Packers will leave Denver better off after a rough go of it at joint practice against Sean Payton's new-look crew. The Broncos have said an ugly goodbye to former starting quarterback Russell Wilson and are building around first-round pick Bo Nix, a relatively unpopular selection in the NFL world.

The Packers know a little something about unpopular quarterback picks.

But Bo Nix was kind of carving up the Packers' defense a little bit. He had big plays to all of his top receivers at the joint practice -- Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, and Josh Reynolds -- and really excelled in the move-the-ball periods of practice.

Difficult practice will help Packers refocus and learn ahead of regular season

So how does that benefit the Packers in any way?

Well, having a rough go like that against a rookie quarterback like Nix can serve as a great early test for Green Bay's secondary, one of the areas of the team that remains at least a bit of a concern going into this season. It might have been all in the spirit of competition, but there was a point during practice when Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander gave Courtland Sutton a little shove after what might have been some excessive celebrating...

Sometimes getting kicked in the mouth can refocus a team a little bit. The Packers certainly had their moments in the joint practice against the Broncos, but considering this was the only time the starters are going to play this week, it wasn't a good showing. But again, you go back to the film and figure out how you can address what went wrong.

Why was Nix lighting up the starting defense?

It's important to remember that the Packers are installing a new defensive scheme this year under Jeff Hafley. Even though the personnel at cornerback hasn't changed all that much on paper, the Packers are still breaking in some young safeties and linebackers, and communicating a new defense.

Even though it was just a practice, Sean Payton is a great offensive play-caller and has a quarterback who has been operating the offense well all offseason. The Packers will be able to rebound from a tough practice and hopefully course correct in an area of the team that was a big concern coming into the offseason.

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