DENVER — The Green Bay Packers, fielding a team without 31 players, including all their regular starters, fell to the Denver Broncos with a score of 27-2 on Sunday.
Jarrett Stidham scored a touchdown for the Broncos with a 9-yard scramble just before halftime, following an interception return of 56 yards by Keidron Smith from Packers quarterback Sean Clifford, who started in place of Jordan Love, who was sidelined.
Zach Wilson took over quarterback duties for Denver, and Green Bay finally managed to score late in the third quarter when Zach Morton tackled Wilson in the end zone for a safety.
Following the safety, the new kickoff rules came into play, and kicker Brandon Lutz took advantage, sending a kickoff from the 20-yard line to the Green Bay 2-yard line, which was returned to the 29 by Dimitri Stanley.
Wilson later connected with Tyler Badie for a 7-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 27-2 late in the fourth quarter.
Denver’s rookie linebacker Jonah Ellis, a third-round draft pick from Utah, continued to impress, forcing an interception for the second consecutive game while also recording a strip-sack and recovering a fumble from Michael Pratt in the third quarter, which led to a field goal.
The Broncos faced a total of 13 penalties amounting to 120 yards, while the Packers were flagged only four times for 40 yards.
Injury updates included Packers linebacker Ralen Goforth, who suffered a concussion on Stidham’s touchdown, and Broncos inside linebacker Jonas Griffith, who injured his right shoulder but returned to the game. Denver rookie wide receiver DeVaughn Vele did not participate due to a leg injury.