DENVER – The Packers pulled away from the Broncos for a 33-13 preseason victory Friday night at Empower Field at Mile High.
Here are five takeaways from the evening:
1. The starting offense found the end zone.
In what was in all likelihood its final preseason tuneup, the starting offense put together a touchdown drive to open the game, with the help of a defensive pass interference penalty in the red zone that wiped out a tough goal-to-go distance.
QB Jordan Love completed 5-of-7 passes for 56 yards on the drive, capping it with an 11-yard TD pass to RB MarShawn Lloyd.
"The drive we had tonight, ended on a great note," Love said of the 12-play, 63-yard sequence. "Guys executing on a lot of levels right there. I think that's a great note to end on."
The sideline was certainly fired up for Lloyd, too, scoring for the first time after getting so little action due to injuries in his first two NFL seasons. He came out of the backfield on a "choice route," where he breaks inside or outside based on the defensive coverage.
The middle was open, so that's where he went and Love flipped it to him in stride.
"He's the No. 1 read right there, and he did a great job winning on his route," Love said. "There was nobody in the middle of the field there and he did a great job finishing it."
2. The starting defense was up against a tough unit.
The Broncos probably would've gone to the Super Bowl last year if QB Bo Nix hadn't gotten hurt in the playoffs, and they looked like that explosive team once again.
Green Bay's defensive starters surrendered a six-play, 65-yard TD drive, getting hurt by two big plays – a 35-yard completion to WR Jayden Waddle on third-and-5 when the pressure didn't get to Nix, and a 21-yard TD pass to RB RJ Harvey on a wheel route when he got a step on LB Edgerrin Cooper.
Some of the defensive starters stayed out for a second series and stopped Nix & Co. to force a long field goal, which was good.
"It's invaluable," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said of working against an outfit like that in the preseason. "That's one of the best teams in the National Football League."
3. Rookie K Trey Smack was at it again.
Coming off an impressive preseason opener last week in Pittsburgh, Smack was arguably even better, albeit in the high altitude.
He topped his longest from last week by a yard, hitting from 59 amongst his four field goals in four tries. The others were from 51, 43 and 38 yards, and he made all three of his extra points.
After last week, LaFleur said it's on Smack to stack the success, and he delivered.
"Feel great, but same thing – he's got to do it again," he said. "He's put two pretty darn good performances back to back. The talent's there, he's just got to continue to be consistent."
4. CB Kamal Hadden's comeback story keeps getting better.
The young defensive back has recovered from a nasty lower leg injury from late last season that kept him out all spring and at the start of training camp. He's now been getting snaps as the starting nickel/slot corner with Javon Bullard currently out with a foot injury, and he's making a strong case to be in the mix somewhere in the secondary.
Hadden's game is to play aggressively, and he did so with two tackles for loss among his five tackles against the Broncos. The first TFL helped hold Denver to a field goal on that second possession by the starting offense. The other came on the opening drive of the second half, leading to a punt.
"He was showing up," LaFleur said. "It's been fun to watch his growth … how he prepares, he comes in with great attitude, he's extremely coachable. It's really cool to see that come to fruition."
5. Several roster hopefuls made plays to get noticed.
RB Pierre Strong Jr. returned a kickoff 68 yards to set up a field goal, and he led all the backs with eight carries for 37 yards. Strong has been right behind Josh Jacobs, Lloyd, and Chris Brooks in the running back rotation thus far.
WR Will Sheppard caught a TD pass from No. 2 QB Tyrod Taylor on a fade route, neatly snagging the ball over his head and dragging his back toe in bounds. The call was discussed at length on the field by the officials and was upheld on replay review. That was one of six catches for 47 yards for Sheppard, who's at a crowded position but pushing for a spot.
Another crowded room is defensive tackle, where Anthony Campbell had a sack in the fourth quarter to go with several batted passes at the line of scrimmage during practices.
S Mark Perry also made a big play for the second straight game. After a key fourth-down stop near the goal line last week, Perry intercepted Broncos backup QB Jarrett Stidham late in the first half to set up a field goal for a 23-10 halftime lead.
