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The Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos share much in common on the young season and in their upcoming schedule. Much like the Packers, the Denver Broncos are an undefeated team whose defense has risen to the occasion in recent weeks to keep them in the win column. Also like the Packers, the Broncos are dealing with some injuries to key players and would like to get those players healthy for the game between the two unbeaten teams in Week 8.
Their schedules over the next two weeks are similar as well. In week 6, both clubs play opponents who are under .500 - the Packers are at home against the 2-3 Chargers, while the Broncos will travel to Cleveland to play the Browns. Then, in week 7, the Packers and Broncos each have their bye week before the two teams play in Denver on Sunday night in week 8.
Some speculation has arisen that the Packers might be cautious with players like Davante Adams, Morgan Burnett, and even T.J. Lang and B.J. Raji this week, in an effort to give them some time off before that big game. It appears that the Broncos are doing the same this week with linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who suffered a back injury in Denver's week 5 win over the Raiders:
Source: #Broncos plan to hold out DeMarcus Ware vs. #Browns, use bye week to let him overcome back problems, re-evaluate for #Packers game
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) October 13, 2015
Ware has not played the Packers since 2013, when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys. In that game, Ware recorded just one assisted tackle as the Packers, led by Matt Flynn, fought back from a huge halftime deficit to defeat the Cowboys. In five games against Green Bay (all with Dallas), Ware has recorded four sacks.
Ware makes up half of the Broncos' fearsome pass-rushing tandem, and he recorded at least one full sack in each of the first four games this year. His teammate, Von Miller, racked up a pair of sacks in his only career game against Green Bay back in 2011.
While we will wait until Wednesday for more updates on the Packers' injuries, it looks like the Broncos are squarely focused on having their team as healthy as possible for the big matchup in three weeks.