The Green Bay Packers face the best defense they've played all season, but it works both ways. The Jordan Love-led offense is arguably the toughest challenge the Denver Broncos have encountered.
Patrick Mahomes is on Denver's schedule, but the Kansas City Chiefs' offense is broken, which is why they sit 6-7 and face a shocking playoff-less season. It's a different story in Green Bay, where Love has launched himself into the MVP conversation. Broncos head coach Sean Payton is fully aware of the challenge facing his excellent defense.
"His deep ball accuracy, his poise in the pocket. He can extend, he can climb, he can run. He doesn't take sacks," said Payton. "I feel like over the last however many years, I've watched him just progress. There's a timing and a confidence level. They do a really good job offensively of getting the ball downfield to a talented group of receivers."
Sean Payton knows the Packers' Jordan Love-led offense can cause the Broncos problems
That final part about Love getting the ball to his receivers is key. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph elaborated.
"It's not one guy he's forcing the ball to, so it's tough to see who you can take away or who you can roll coverage to," he said, via The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. "There's not much of that on tape. It's organic. It's per read. It's per concept. So you've got to play honest."
That's the beauty of the Packers' offense. The Broncos boast an outstanding cornerback room led by two-time first-team All-Pro and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II. He can follow an opposing team's No. 1 receiver and eliminate them from the game.
But who does he follow in this game?
Christian Watson might make the most sense, as he's emerging as the Packers' most dangerous receiving threat. But then there is Jayden Reed, who has led the team in receiving in the previous two seasons. And Romeo Doubs, who was Love's go-to receiver for much of the season. How about Dontayvion Wicks, who dominated the Detroit Lions two weeks ago?
And if he's healthy, Matthew Golden could also make an impact. There's a reason why the Packers drafted him in the first round.
READ MORE: Even Colin Cowherd admits what Packers fans knew all along about Jordan Love
It's a fascinating matchup. Denver's defense is for real. There's no doubting that. Its pass rush is the league's best and on pace to beat the 1984 Chicago Bears' record of 72 sacks in a season. The Broncos can win with four rushers, but they also send pressure. According to Sharp Football Analysis, Denver blitzes 30.6 percent of the time, which is the NFL's sixth-highest rate.
That's where Payton and Joseph could run into a Love problem. No quarterback destroys the blitz better than the Packers' MVP candidate. Love has Pro Football Focus' highest passing grade against the blitz, an elite 90.3, having thrown for 1,163 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just one interception.
Compared to when these teams met in 2023, the Packers' offense is miles apart and Love is a far better quarterback.
It was a bizarre game. Love threw two touchdowns, one of which Romeo Doubs deflected into the air and into the hands of Jayden Reed. The Packers ended up falling two points short in a 19-17 defeat. Love and his young supporting cast have come a long way since then.
Payton has seen the difference, and he knows his defense is in for its toughest test of the season.