GREEN BAY, Wis. — The 2-3 Packers return from their bye week to play the Broncos Sunday in Denver.
The 1-5 Broncos are coached by Sean Payton, who spent 15 years in New Orleans as head coach of the Saints. He was 5-2 against the Packers over those years.
Here are Three Things to Watch in Sunday’s game:
What happened to Russell Wilson?
Denver’s quarterback is Russell Wilson, who played at Wisconsin in 2011 before a long and successful tenure in Seattle with the Seahawks.
With the Broncos, Wilson struggled last season. He has been better this season, but it’s been overshadowed by a horrible Denver defense that allowed Miami to score 70 points.
Denver’s offensive coordinator is Joe Lombardi, Vince Lombardi's grandson.
Mile high heartaches
In the seven games played in Denver over the years, the Packers have only won once. That was in overtime in 2007.
The Packers’ last trip to Denver was in 2015. This is the first time since 2011 that the Packers have played on the road in both the weeks before and after the bye. The Packers won both games that year.
Bad memory
These teams met in Super Bowl 32 after the 1997 season in San Diego. Brett Favre and the Packers fell short of their second straight championship when they were upset by John Elway and the Broncos, 31-24. It was Denver’s first Super Bowl victory. They also won the following year and after the 2015 season.
The Broncos’ roster includes former Wisconsin Badger Matt Henningson from Menomonee Falls and Quinn Meinerz from Hartford and UW-Whitewater.