Battle of undefeated teams: Packers travel to Denver for primetime matchup on Sunday
DENVER -- The Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos will square off in primetime in a matchup of undefeated teams on Sunday evening, November 1st. The teams will go to battle at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver -- and one of these teams will suffer its first loss of the season.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CST.
"There's a lot of energy in the building so far this week. I think it's more about our opportunity to get to 7-0. We definitely have great respect for the Denver Broncos -- first as an organization and environment we're going to play in," Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy said.
According to Packers.com, Sunday's game will be just the fourth matchup of undefeated teams with six or more wins each in NFL history -- and the first since New England (8-0) at Indianapolis (7-0) on Nov. 4, 2007.
"I think we kow as a team we're going to have our hands full, both offensively and defensively, and you're right, they play some fantastic ball on defense -- so we expect that not to change, especially after a bye week in their house," Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said.
Green Bay is 6-0 for the first time since 2011 (13-0) and for the second time under Head Coach Mike McCarthy.
It is the Packers’ fourth 6-0 start since 1945 (10-0 in 1962 and 6-0 in 1965). The Packers are one of two NFC teams (Carolina) still undefeated this season and one of five in the NFL (Cincinnati, Denver, New England).
"We know that this is if not our toughest challenge, then it's one of the toughest. It's probably the biggest challenge for us so far, and we'll see as the season goes on where that stacks up," Packers left guard Josh Sitton said.
Dating back to 1990, this is the second time Green Bay has been undefeated at the bye (7-0 in 2011).
The Packers defense has been the team's strong suit so far this season. One big reason is their sack attack! Hopefully there will be more of the same on Sunday night in Denver.
Green Bay has sacks in 42 consecutive games --a team record, and the longest active streak in the league.
"That's a pretty good indicator that you've got something good going -- kind of disrupting them, forcing incompletions, bad passes, interceptions and obviously getting the ball back to our offense. I'd like to think that plays a big hand in it, and you look at where we're at as far as sacks, hurries and interceptions. It starts with a great pass rush as well as guys in the back. We work in tandem," Matthews said.
On the all-time active sack list? #1: Jared Allen of the Panthers, whom the Packers will play next week, #2 DeMarcus Ware of the Broncos, whom the Packers play this week, #3, Julius Peppers of Green Bay.
Green Bay will be on the road for six of the final 10 contests, including four of the first six after the bye.
Make your pre-game prognostications by VOTING in our poll just below. Who will remain undefeated after Sunday's matchup?