"Denver was clearly the better team:" Packers suffer first loss of season at hands of Broncos

DENVER -- It's a battle of the undefeated teams as the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos meet at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday night, November 1st. And in the end, the Packers would suffer their first loss of the season -- falling to the Broncos 29-10.

Kickoff was set for 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Denver.





The following players were selected to serve as captains for Sunday night's game: G Josh Sitton (offense), S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (defense) and CB Demetri Goodson (special teams).

According to Packers.com, the following Packers players have been declared as inactive for Sunday night’s game: 7 QB Brett Hundley, 36 CB LaDarius Gunter, 55 LB Andy Mulumba, 65 G Lane Taylor, 79 G Josh Walker, 86 TE Kennard Backman, 88 Ty Montgomery.

The Green Bay Packers won the coin toss as play began in Denver Sunday night, and opted to defer. The Broncos would get the ball first -- at their own 20 yard line.

The Broncos were forced to punt the ball on fourth down (after the Packers' defense allowed just one first down) -- and then it was time for the Packers' offense to get to work on their own 23 yard line.

At fourth and 17, Tim Masthay came onto the field to punt for the Packers.

The Broncos would then begin their second drive of the game at their own 17 yard line.

The Broncos were able to get the ball into the red zone during this drive. At third and goal, Broncos RB Ronnie Hillman was able to get the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.

With Broncos' kicker Brandon McManus' extra point, the game was Broncos 7, Packers 0.

The Broncos' scoring drive included nine plays for 83 yards, just under five minutes (4:57).

With under five minutes to play in the first quarter, the Packers said CB Sam Shields has a shoulder injury -- and his return is questionable.

The Packers were forced to punt again during their next drive, and a holding penalty on the Broncos' return would put the team on its own 15 yard line as another offensive drive began.

As the first quarter came to an end in Denver, the Broncos led the Packers 7-0.

CLICK HERE for a first quarter wrap-up via Packers.com.

Early in the second quarter, Broncos' Andre Caldwell caught a pass in the end zone -- but there was a flag on the play, and Caldwell was called for pass interference.

The next play was a hand-off from Broncos' QB Peyton Manning to Hillman, who ran the ball for 15 yards into the end zone -- for a Broncos touchdown.

McManus' extra point brought the score to Broncos 14, Packers 0.

This scoring drive included six plays for 85 yards and about 3 minutes (2:43).

With about 12:30 left to play in the second quarter, the Packers announced CB Quinten Rollins has a shoulder injury. His return is questionable.

The Packers went three-and-out on their next drive, and the Broncos would then take over on their own 22 yard line.

The drive led to a 50-yard field goal by Broncos' kicker Brandon McManus, bringing the score to Broncos 17, Packers 0.

This scoring drive included eight plays for 46 yards and just over four minutes (4:12).

The Packers said during this matchup that QB Aaron Rodgers has now surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards. He's the eighth QB in NFL history to have 30,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards.

The Packers would finally get on the scoreboard after an Aaron Rodgers pass to TE Richard Rodgers to convert on third down.

On the next third down, the Broncos were called for roughing the passer, and the Packers followed with runs by WR Randall Cobb and Lacy.

Lacy finished the drive with a two-yard run into the end zone for a touchdown.

Packers kicker Mason Crosby's extra point was good -- bringing the score to Broncos 17, Packers 7 with 2:58 left in the second quarter.

The Packers' scoring drive included 10 plays for 80 yards in about five minutes (4:48).

At the two-minute warning in the first half, the Broncos were at third and four on their own 26 yard line.

The Broncos were able to convert -- but penalties backed the Broncos up into their own territory from the Green Bay 40, and the drive stalled.

As the first half came to an end, the score was 17-7. The Packers will get the ball when the second half begins.





CLICK HERE for a first half recap via Packers.com.

As the players took to the field and the second half began, Packers officials said Sam Shields and Quinten Rollins would be out for the remainder of this game with shoulder injuries.

The Packers' first drive of the second half resulted in a 56-yard Mason Crosby field goal -- bringing the score to Broncos 17, Packers 10.

With that field goal, the Packers said Crosby now has the seven longest field goals in franchise history.

The Packers' drive included 11 plays for 41 yards in about six minutes (5:53).

A Broncos' touchdown came with about 5:30 left to play in the third quarter, following a 28-yard run by Broncos' running back C.J. Anderson. This TD brought the score to Broncos 24, Packers 10.

The Broncos' scoring drive included eight plays for 80 yards in about four minutes (3:42).

This came after Manning completed a pass to Demaryius Thomas, avoiding a three-and-out.

Manning followed with a 24-yard pass to Andre Caldwell.

Packers' Clay Matthews was injured on that play, and left the field -- returning towards the end of the third quarter.

Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked by Broncos DE Antonio Smith -- stalling the offensive drive. The Packers punted the ball back to the Broncos.

The third quarter ended with the Broncos at the Packers 45 yard line.

CLICK HERE for a third quarter wrap-up via Packers.com.

A Brandon McManus field goal early in the fourth quarter brought the score to Broncos 27, Packers 10 with 12:25 left to play in the game.

The scoring drive involved nine plays for 74 yards in 4:45.

Minutes later, Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers fumbled the ball into the end zone. TE Richard Rodgers recovered the ball -- but it was a safety for the Broncos, and the score was then Broncos 29, Packers 10.

An interception for the Green Bay Packers came shortly thereafter, as Damarious Randall picked off Peyton Manning -- and it was green and gold ball. The Packers say this was Randall's first NFL interception.

At the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter, the score was Broncos 29, Packers 10 -- and neither team would score again as the clock wound down in Denver.

The Packers have now suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Denver Broncos -- who are undefeated, with a 7-0 record.

"Denver was clearly the better team tonight. Very humbling loss. We didn't break their rhythm on offense. They ran it well. Explosive gains were lopsided in Denver's favor," McCarthy said.

The 6-1 Packers face the Carolina Panthers next Sunday, November 8th. Kickoff is set for noon at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Monitor FOX6Now.com for updates on this matchup.