Packers vs. Broncos preview and prediction: What to expect in Week 7

Coming out of the bye week, the Green Bay Packers desperately need a win.

Almost a month since they have tasted a victory, the Packers and their fans are growing impatient, waiting for this team to click on all cylinders. What better way to get on track than to go up against the statistically worst defense in the entire NFL?

The Denver Broncos are arguably one of, if not the worst, teams in the NFL this season, so if there was any game the Packers needed to win to get back on track, this is the one.

For the Packers to come out on top Sunday, here's what has to happen.

Aaron Jones becomes the focal point of the offense

If the game plan this week does not have Aaron Jones getting a minimum of 25 touches against the 32nd-ranked rush defense in the NFL, then the Packers have deeper issues than just bad game planning.

The Broncos have allowed the most rushing yards per game, 172.3 yards, which is 24.8 yards more than the second-worst team in the league.

Barring any major setbacks before kickoff, the Packers should see an obvious Aaron Jones-size hole in the Broncos' defense that they will need to take advantage of if they want to come out with the win.

Green Bay has not run the ball well all season, ranking sixth-worst in the NFL in rushing yards per game at 81.6.

It looks like a stoppable force meets a moveable object type matchup between the Packers' run game and the Broncos' defense. However, the Packers have not had Jones at 100 percent since Week 1. Coming out of the bye week, the Packers should be as close to full strength as they have been all season, allowing for the offense, especially the run game, to blossom into its full potential.

Look for the Packers to attempt to establish the run game early this week against the worst rush defense in the NFL.

Improved situational football

The Packers have to get better on first and second down. Having a young team with a quarterback making his seventh career start consistently finding themselves in long third-down scenarios is a recipe for poor offensive performance.

Green Bay needs to make early-down plays, and the coaching must put the team in the best possible position. This has been an issue all season. Only scoring six total points across the last three first halves of football is unacceptable.

This lack of offensive production early in games is mostly because penalties and missed opportunities have put the offense in more third-and-7 or worse situations rather than getting to third-and-manageable.

If the Packers can stop shooting themselves in the foot, the offense can take a step up and help complement the defense, which has been playing well enough all season to win games.

Pressure Russell Wilson and force mistakes

Although the Broncos have been extremely lackluster this season, Russell Wilson is playing exceptionally better than last year, completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns with only four interceptions. These stats have not translated into wins, with a 1-5 record and Denver looking like it will finish as one of the worst teams in the league.

The Packers have to force Wilson to make mistakes.

Look for Rashan Gary and Preston Smith to take advantage of a Broncos offensive line that has allowed 19 sacks this season. The Packers will look to add to that number this Sunday.

Packers vs. Broncos prediction

The Packers are in "must-win mode" and will do just that, finishing the game with a score of 35-17.

Jordan Love completes a season-high 65 percent of his passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns.

Aaron Jones will also finish the game going over 100 yards rushing for the first time this season. The Packers will need to dominate against this Broncos team on the road, and they will do just that.

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