The Packers don’t have a rich, extensive history with the Denver Broncos. Dating back to 1971, they’ve played the Broncos 16 times, and our Tex Western explored each of those 16 games (including disappointing Super Bowl XXXII) at a team level here.
But what are the best individual performances over those 16 games? Here’s a look at a few of them.
Most passing yards – 408 (Aaron Rodgers, 2011)
Over the course of this series, I’ve noticed that strong individual performances tend to correlate pretty well with MVP seasons. That’s the case with Aaron Rodgers here, as his 408 yards (and four touchdown passes) against the Broncos in 2011 came early in what would turn out to be the first of four MVP campaigns.
The Packers won thanks to Rodgers’ big day (which also included a rushing touchdown) but there were some signs of how the Packers season would turn out. The Packers struggled to slow down the Broncos for most of the day, and it wasn’t until Rodgers’ third and fourth touchdowns that they really pulled away. And of course, Kyle Orton started for the Broncos that day — he’d later quarterback the Chiefs as they handed the Packers their only regular season loss of 2011.
Most rushing yards – 218 (Ahman Green, 2003)
Ahman Green didn’t win an MVP for his herculean 1,883 yard performance in 2003, but he did set the Packers’ single-season rushing record. And what better way to cap off that magical regular season run than with a whopping 218 yards on the ground?
It took Green only 20 carries to achieve his masterpiece, but it’s a lot easier to put up a big number when you cash in 98 yards on a single play.
Most receiving yards – 206 (James Lofton, 1984)
Speaking of big plays, James Lofton had plenty of them in the Packers’ 1984 meeting with the Broncos. Amid an incredible blizzard, Packers’ quarterback Lynn Dickey rolled up an impressive 371 passing yards, 206 of which went to Lofton on 11 catches. The biggest was a 54-yard score in the fourth quarter.
But despite the big performance from Dickey and Lofton,and despite the Broncos not scoring an offensive touchdown, the Packers still came up short, losing 17-14 to the Broncos. I guess when your opponents recover six of your seven fumbles and return two for touchdowns, it’s hard to win.
Most points – 18 (Antonio Freeman, 1996)
Before the Packers would lose to the Broncos in the Super Bowl to cap the 1997 season, they’d thrash the Broncos en route to their own Super Bowl title. The Broncos came to Lambeau Field late in the 1996 season and found themselves on the wrong end of a 41-3 thrashing. Antonio Freeman did the bulk of the damage, scoring three touchdowns as a part of his nine catch, 175 yard performance in his second game back from a broken arm. He nearly had a fourth touchdown, but Don Beebe beat him to the ball when Travis Jervey fumbled into the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Most sacks – 3 (Three players)
Three players have taken down a Denver quarterback three times in a game.
The late, great Reggie White was the first to do it. He sacked John Elway three times during a Sunday Night Football game at Lambeau Field in 1993, marking his first multi-sack game as member of the Packers.
Aaron Kampman did it next, recording three sacks of his own in the Packers’ 2007 overtime win against the Broncos. Kampman’s day included one fairly odd sack. On a play when Brandon Marshall, a wide receiver, took a direct snap from center, Kampman was the one to take him down. He was credited with a sack since Marshall had technically been the quarterback on the play.
Finally, throwback-clad Preston Smith got three sacks during the Packers’ 2019 win over the Broncos, a game that also included Rashan Gary’s first career sack.
Most tackles – 9 (two players)
No Packers player has crossed into double digit solo tackles against the Broncos, but both Bernardo Harris and Desmond Bishop have come close. Harris did it in a 1999 loss to Denver (notching a TFL in the process), while Bishop threw in an additional four assists as a part of his work during the Packers’ 2011 win, the same game in which Aaron Rodgers threw for 408 yards.
Most interceptions – 3 (Ken Ellis, 1971)
Ken Ellis is the lone player in Packers history to manage more than one interception in a game against the Denver Broncos, doing so all the way back in the Packers’ very first matchup with Denver in 1971. Former Packers quarterback Don Horn must have been in a giving mood, throwing six interceptions to Packers defenders that day. Maybe it was just force of habit after playing four years with the Packers?