“Heroes and Zeroes from the Denver Broncos’ Crushing 27-2 Triumph Over the Green Bay Packers”

The Denver Broncos cruised to a 2-0 record in the preseason with a commanding 27-2 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The Broncos dominated from start to finish, with the Packers’ only points coming from a Zach Wilson safety. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who got the start, led two scoring drives, including a touchdown pass to Tim Patrick, seemingly locking up the starting QB job.

Several players stood out, with some making their mark for the second week in a row. However, a few others were less fortunate, landing on the “losers” side of the ledger.

So, let’s dive into the biggest winners and losers from the Broncos’ blowout win over the Packers.

Winner – QB Bo Nix
The night belonged to rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who continues to shine in the preseason. Following an impressive debut against the Colts and a strong performance in joint practices with the Packers, Nix carried his momentum into this game. He completed 8 of 9 passes for 90 yards, including a touchdown to Tim Patrick. Despite having a second touchdown called back due to being just over the line of scrimmage, Nix was in full command of the offense—accurate, poised, and turnover-free. With a preseason stat line of 23 completions on 30 attempts for 205 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a 116.7 passer rating, Nix looks every bit the part of a starting NFL quarterback. His stellar play has likely earned him the starting role, and he has yet to be sacked or throw an interception, showing maturity beyond his years. Although he hasn’t faced starting defenses yet, Nix is proving he can be a capable NFL quarterback, and it’ll be exciting to watch his development throughout the season.

Winner – WR Tim Patrick
Coming into camp, Tim Patrick was on the roster bubble, but he’s showing that he’s still a valuable asset despite missing the last two seasons due to injury. Patrick started again this week, finishing with four catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. His performance has solidified his spot on the roster, and he’s expected to be a key contributor this season.

Winner – EDGE Nik Bonitto and Jonah Elliss
Rookie edge rusher Jonah Elliss, who had a sack last week, continued his strong preseason with another sack, this time a strip-sack. Both Elliss and Nik Bonitto wreaked havoc off the edges, with the highlight being their combined effort on the strip-sack. With Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper as starters, Bonitto and Elliss provide the Broncos with dynamic pass-rushing depth.

Winner – TE Greg Dulcich
Greg Dulcich, often plagued by injuries, has made it through training camp and two preseason games without any setbacks. In this game, he caught two passes for 27 yards, one of which was a crucial third-down conversion where he powered through a defender. Dulcich’s ability to stay healthy could give the Broncos a much-needed playmaker at tight end, and it’s exciting to think about what he can bring to Sean Payton’s offense during the regular season.

Winner – S Keidron Smith
Preseason is all about roster bubble players making their case, and Keidron Smith is doing just that with interceptions in back-to-back games. His latest pick was a well-timed route jump that set up the offense in Packers’ territory. While Smith may be more likely to end up on the practice squad, his knack for making plays is giving the coaches something to think about.

Loser – Backup Offensive Line
Despite the dominant win, the Broncos’ backup offensive line struggled. Alex Palczewski, Alex Forsyth, Demontrey Jacobs, and Will Sherman all had miscues, from holding penalties to a whiffed block that led to a safety. The lack of depth on the O-line is a concern, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see some additions during the cut-down period.

Other Notable Winners and Losers
– QBs Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson – Underwhelming: After Nix left the game, the quarterback play dropped off, with both Stidham and Wilson having lackluster performances.
– CB Riley Moss – Winner: Moss started alongside Pat Surtain and Ja’Quan McMillian and played well, likely securing a starting spot.
– RB Tyler Badie – Winner: With touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, Badie is making a strong case for a roster spot, though he might end up on the practice squad.
– RB Audric Estime – Pass Block Winner: Estime showcased his pass-blocking skills with a key block that allowed a downfield completion, potentially earning him more playing time.
– Broncos Defense – Winner: The defense dominated as expected, shutting down the Packers’ backup quarterbacks.
– RB Samaje Perine – Loser: Perine’s lack of noteworthy plays puts him on the roster bubble, as he finished with just 16 yards on 5 carries.