Packers vs. Broncos NFL Preseason Week 2 Picks: Look For a Low-Scoring, Run-Heavy Showdown

Pick’em Pool Contest

With the NFL regular season just around the corner, it’s time to put your football knowledge to the test with BMRForum.com’s $20K NFL 2024 Pick’em Pool! Think you know your team? Prove it! Whether you’re a seasoned fan or new to the game, this is your chance to win big and show off your skills. Don’t miss out!

The Green Bay Starters Likely Won’t Play

The Packers kicked off their preseason in style with a 23-10 victory over the Browns on Saturday, highlighted by a touchdown pass from Jordan Love and a solid defensive effort. Head coach Matt LaFleur must be pleased with the team’s performance.

With their sights set on contending this season, the Packers are likely to take a cautious approach to the rest of the preseason. LaFleur may prioritize preserving his starters, knowing that an injury to a key player could derail their postseason aspirations.

Next up, the Packers face the Broncos, who are coming off an impressive 34-point showing in their preseason opener against the Colts. LaFleur has indicated that many of Green Bay’s top players will sit out this game, although he hasn’t ruled out giving them some action in the final preseason contest against the Ravens.

“Right now, I don’t anticipate those guys playing versus Denver, the majority of the starters,” LaFleur explained. “We have the competitive practice versus the Broncos, use that as their game reps and let the other guys play for the most part in that second preseason game, and then we’ll re-evaluate for the third one.”

In the meantime, expect quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt to share the workload in this game as they compete for the backup role behind Love. Clifford brings experience to the table, but Pratt impressed during his first extended action with the Packers.

Running back AJ Dillon is one fringe starter who could see significant reps, especially with Josh Jacobs likely sitting out and rookie MarShawn Lloyd nursing an injury from the last game. Dillon, who managed just two yards on four carries against Cleveland, will be looking to bounce back.

Nix Will Have Another Chance to Shine

For the Broncos, rookie quarterback Bo Nix will get the start after an impressive NFL debut against the Colts, where he completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards, with one touchdown, and no interceptions, while also rushing for 17 yards on three carries. Though he took some snaps with Denver’s first-team offense, he primarily faced the Colts’ backups on defense and will likely encounter a similar scenario against the Packers.

Ideally, Denver would have liked to see Nix test himself against Green Bay’s starting defense, but the Packers will reserve their top defenders for a joint practice with the Broncos on Friday.

Running back Jaleel McLaughlin made a strong case for more touches with a solid performance against the Colts. After showing flashes as a rookie in 2023, McLaughlin continued to make his mark with a 22-yard catch and run (he finished the game with two catches for 26 receiving yards) and 30 yards on seven carries.

In a crowded backfield with hopes for Javonte Williams’ return to form and excitement around rookie Audric Estimé, McLaughlin is pushing for a larger role this season.

The Pick

As the preseason progresses, the Packers will focus on evaluating the depth of their roster. With little at stake in these games, there’s no reason to risk someone like Love in situations that don’t matter much in the grand scheme.

With backups like Clifford and Pratt splitting quarterback duties, the Green Bay offense might lack the explosiveness typically provided by Love. Furthermore, with Dillon expected to see more reps, the Packers may lean heavily on the run game, which typically leads to longer drives and fewer points overall.

On the other side, the Broncos are starting Nix, who had a solid debut but is untested. Additionally, McLaughlin is expected to get more touches as he continues to make a case for a larger role. Like the Packers, the Broncos may also focus on running the ball, given their desire to evaluate their backfield depth.

With both teams likely to emphasize the run game and limit the involvement of key starters, the pace of the game should be slower, leading to fewer scoring opportunities. Given these conditions, betting the Under aligns with the expectation of a more conservative, run-heavy game plan from both teams, reducing the likelihood of a high-scoring affair.

NFL Pick: Under 40 (-110) at Bookmaker

Under 40 (-110)

Visit Site

*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.