Broncos aiming to upset the Packers this week

The Denver Broncos (1-2) will travel to Green Bay to take on the defending Super Bowl Champion Packers (3-0) this week. Kickoff at Lambeau Field on Sunday, October 2nd, is schedule for 4:15 p.m. (ET).

The game will be broadcast by CBS's Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, and will be aired across most of the country. The game is not thought of as a must-watch (the Broncos are 14-point underdogs), but America is certainly interested in following the reigning Super Bowl Champions.

Just over a decade ago, the Broncos were 14-point underdogs against the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.

A lot of things have changed in Denver and Green Bay since then, but at least one aspect of Sunday's game will be similar to the 1998 Super Bowl: Green Bay's potent passing attack.

The Packers' Aaron Rodgers comes into Sunday's game having thrown for 917 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception this season. Green Bay's offense has been next to unstoppable.

Fortunately for the Broncos, their defense has been playing much better than it has in previous seasons, and the Packers defense is susceptible -- especially against the pass. The Packers defense has allowed 359.3 passing yards per game, giving them a second to last ranking in the NFL in that category.

That's the good news for Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, who's played inconsistently in recent games. Orton has reliable targets in veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd and rising star Eric Decker. On paper, Orton seems primed to have a solid performance.

The bad news for Orton is Green Bay's outside linebacker Clay Matthews. The Broncos offensive line has been struggling this season, allowing 8 sacks and 13 quarterback hits, while Matthews has recorded 12 tackles and a sack. Denver's offensive line will have their hands full on Sunday. Expect the offense to get at least two players on Matthews every time his rushes the passer.

Teams have "double teamed" Matthews this season and limited his effectiveness, much like Denver's opponents have keyed on Broncos rookie outside linebacker Von Miller. Despite drawing a lot of attention from offensive lines, Miller is one of just two players in the league (Baltimore's Terrell Suggs) to have recorded at least 10 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in September.

The Broncos are hopeful that Miller will be joined by fellow pass rusher Elvis Dumervil this week, who is recovering from a shoulder injury and hasn't played since being limited against the Raiders on opening weekend. When healthy, Dumervil is one of the most effective edge rushers in the NFL. If he is able to play on Sunday and pressure Rodgers, the Broncos defense would benefit tremendously.

Another starting defensive player that is battling an injury is cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring), who could end up being one of the most important players on Sunday for Denver. Without Bailey, the Broncos secondary has struggled against the pass the previous two weeks and blown coverage has accrued more than once.

If the Broncos are going to slow down the Packers pass-happy offense, they'll have to play close to mistake free. Having perennial Pro Bowler Champ Bailey in the secondary would be a huge boost for the defensive unit.

If the Broncos are able to upset the Packers on Sunday, it would mark their 400th franchise victory and bump their all time record against defending Super Bowl champions to 16-10.

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Tebow plays receiver as Broncos hold on to a 24-22 win over the Cincinnati Bengals

Early in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver Broncos wide receiver Eddie Royal went down with a groin injury, leaving second year receiver Eric Decker and Matthew Willis as the Broncos only two remaining active receivers (Brandon Lloyd and Demaryius Thomas did not dress due to injuries).

Faced with a wide receiver dilemma, coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy turned to... Co-No. 2 quarterback Tim Tebow.

Per ESPN's Chris Mortenson, Tebow had asked earlier in the week to practice with the scout team offense as wide receiver instead of just stand around. Fox said Tebow hadn't practiced the position at all during the week but that the coaches had told him to be ready in case of injuries.

Tebow was ready and got the call in the first quarter. The Broncos used the former Florida Heisman Trophy winner as the third receiver, basically a decoy to the defense. Denver ran on most plays Tebow was on the field (and yes, he blocked well) and threw several times, but never in Tebow's direction.

Kudos go out to Tebow for being willing to do whatever it takes to get on the field (we were wondering why he was wearing two gloves when he usually doesn't even wear one) and a shout out to Fox and McCoy for finding a way to get him involved in the offense. It will be interesting to see if Tebow's role in the offense expands down the stretch.

Starting quarterback Kyle Orton may have also at least quieted the calls for his head, as the veteran quarterback went 15-of-25 for 195 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were thrown to second year receiver Eric Decker. After two games, Decker now had 8 catches for 166 yards and two receiving touchdowns to compliment his 5 punt returns that went for 125 yards and another score.

Joining Orton and Decker as the main offensive weapons Sunday was running back Willis McGahee, who added a physical punch that Denver's rushing attack has been missing for years. McGahee rushed 28 times for 101 yards and one touchdown, marking the first time a Broncos running back has rushed for 100 yards or more in a game since Knowshon Moreno did it last November.

The offensive line and fullback Spencer Larsen did an excellent job of paving rushing lanes for McGahee, after a dismal week-one effort against the Raiders when McGahee averaged less than one yard per rush. Larsen added one rush for four yards and three catches for twenty-three yards while the offense line helped produce 326 yards of total offense.

While the offense looked improved, Denver's defense won the game. The Broncos defense twice stopped Cincinnati's offense late in the fourth quarter, helping the Broncos hold on to a two-point lead. Special teams captain Wesley Woodyard started at linebacker in the place of D.J. Williams (elbow) and led the team with thirteen tackles.

Rookie linebacker Von Miller recorded three tackles and his first career sack, while defensive back Jonathan Wilhite and defensive end Robert Ayers forced a key sack and quarterback hurry respectively to keep the Bengals offense out of field goal range late in the game.

The 24-22 victory marks John Fox's (1-1) first career win with the Broncos, which is more impressive when you consider the fact that the team was without cornerback Champ Bailey, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, running back Knowshon Moreno, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, defensive tackle Marcus Thomas and linebacker D.J. Williams due to respective injuries.

The Broncos are in good standing in the AFC West after the Oakland Raiders (1-1) fell to the Buffalo Bills 38-35, the Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) fell to the Detroit Lions 48-3 and the San Diego Chargers (1-1) fell to the New England Patriots 35-21 in Week Two.

The Broncos will travel to Tennessee next week to take on the Titans. The Broncos will need to heal up on offense, do a better job of scoring and take care of the football if they want to keep winning. For now, cautious optimism is to be expected from Broncos fans.

Photos used in this article were courtesy of Getty Images and Reuters Pictures.

Moreno unlikely to play Sunday; Broncos activate Johnson from practice squad

After missing a whole week of practice, running back Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) was officially listed as "questionable" for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. It appears however that Moreno may not even suit up as the team plans to activate fellow running back Jeremiah Johnson from the practice squad.

Veteran running back Willis McGahee will get the start, with back-up Lance Ball seeing carries as well. Johnson figures to be in the mix, but not heavily. Last week Moreno saw twice as many carries as McGahee, expect similar numbers Sunday between McGahee and Ball (who had no rushes Sunday but did add one catch that went for nine yards and a score).

Meanwhile, wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (groin) was back at practice Friday and will probably be ready to go Sunday. Lloyd's injury appears to be the least serious on the injury report and if the team was not confident that he would be ready to go, they probably would have activated Eron Riley from the practice squad.

Defensive end Elvis Dumervil has a lingering shoulder injury and is listed as questionable as well. Cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring) is also listed as questionable and is unlikely to play.

In the place of Bailey and Dumervil, expect cornerback Cassius Vaughn and defensive end Jason Hunter to start against the Bengals. Hunter saw a lot of playing time last week against Oakland filling in for the injured Dumervil and Vaughn is also no stranger to playing time. Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite could also factor into the secondary mix.

There are 768 tickets still available to Sunday's game through our TiqIQ widget, with the average price of a seat coming in at $137 dollars. Prices are starting at $35. For more, see our TiqIQ widget on the sidebar or click here.

We certainly haven't forgotten what happened the last time these two teams faced off. Here's hoping for another exciting game that ends with the Broncos getting a "W".

Broncos battling injuries heading into Week Two

When the Denver Broncos face off against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon they could be without several key players. Four starters sat out practice Wednesday and again Thursday in Dove Valley.

Cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring), defensive end Elvis Dumervil (shoulder), running back Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (groin) are all on a day-to-day status, reports Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post.

Defensive tackles Ty Warren and Marcus Thomas did not play on Monday and were expected to miss Sunday's game, along with linebacker D.J. Williams (elbow) and Demaryius Thomas (finger, Achilles).

The Broncos will officially declare the statuses of the four injured starters on Friday.

Meanwhile, Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton was not able to throw at practice on Wednesday and may miss Sunday's game. Veteran quarterback Bruce Gradkowski will start against the Broncos if Dalton is not ready to go.

Here's hoping the injured Broncos heal up quickly. Their absence will certainly be felt by the Broncos.