According to reporters Emmett Prosser and Ryan Wood, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Denver Broncos 33-13 during their preseason matchup on August 21, 2026, at Empower Field at Mile High.
Jordan Love and Packers Starters Take Early Control
According to reporter Tom Silverstein, Green Bay won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff, sending starting quarterback Jordan Love onto the field right away. Love connected with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden on the opening drive, converting a crucial fourth-and-1 when he hit Golden in stride for a 20-yard gain, according to Prosser. To cap the drive, running back MarShawn Lloyd ran a Texas route for an 11-yard touchdown catch, as reported by Wood. According to Wood, Love finished his night completing 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown, earning a 134.5 passer rating before exiting.
On the defensive side, according to Wood, Green Bay’s starting lineup featured defensive linemen Devonte Wyatt, Jonathan Ford, Karl Books, and Lukas Van Ness, alongside linebackers Zaire Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper, cornerbacks Keisean Nixon, Brandon Cisse, and Kamal Hadden, and safety tandem Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams. Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle tested that secondary early, beating McKinney for a 35-yard reception, according to Wood and Silverstein. Meanwhile, Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain challenged Green Bay’s pass catchers, stripping the ball from Christian Watson before replay confirmed Watson’s knee was down, according to Silverstein.
Trey Smack Perfect With Multiple Long-Range Field Goals
According to Wood and Silverstein, rookie kicker Trey Smack delivered a flawless performance by converting all seven of his field goal attempts. Smack hit a pair of long field goals—59 and 43 yards—in the final 54 seconds of the first half, with the 59-yarder striking the net, according to Prosser and Silverstein. Wood noted that Smack went 10-of-13 from beyond 50 yards during his college career and started the night by hitting a 51-yarder. By the end of the matchup, Smack’s fourth field goal sealed the 33-13 final score, according to Wood.
Pro Tip: Preseason games heavily feature roster evaluation for young specialists and depth pieces. Keeping an eye on rookie kicking accuracy and lower-tier depth battles often provides the clearest preview of final 53-man roster decisions ahead of the league’s cutdown day.
Tyrod Taylor and Kyle McCord Guide the Backup Offense
Following Love’s departure, backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor took over the offense, according to Silverstein. Taylor completed 2 of 6 passes for 8 yards while operating under heavy pressure, according to Silverstein. Despite the pressure, Taylor engineered a scoring drive capped by a touchdown pass to wide receiver Will Sheppard, who executed a precise sideline catch by getting his second toe in bounds, according to Wood and Silverstein. Sheppard finished as the game’s leading receiver, catching all six of his targets for 47 yards, per Wood.
Sturdivant exited the contest after taking a hard hit from Broncos linebacker Red Murdock, entering the NFL concussion protocol, according to Wood and Silverstein.
Defensive Pressure and Injury Updates
According to Silverstein, Green Bay’s third-team defensive unit kept heavy pressure on Denver’s quarterbacks in the second half. Rookie defensive tackle Chris McClellan disrupted Denver’s backfield with a quick pass rush against starting left guard Ben Powers, while defensive lineman Anthony Campbell later registered a sack against Sam Ehlinger, according to Wood and Silverstein. In the secondary, cornerback Kamal Hadden recorded five tackles and two tackles for loss, continuing a strong stretch of play following his recovery from an injury last season, according to Silverstein.
On the injury front, cornerback Brandon Cisse limped off the field after serving as a punt gunner and was evaluated in the blue medical tent for a leg issue, according to Silverstein and Wood. Cisse avoided a serious absence, returning to the sideline to perform cuts and talk with head coach Matt LaFleur and teammates, according to Wood.
Did You Know?
The annual NFL roster cutdown day requires teams to trim their rosters from 90 players down to the final 53-man limit just before the start of the regular season, making every preseason snap vital for bubble players.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Packers-Broncos preseason game?
According to Wood, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Denver Broncos 33-13 on August 21, 2026.
How did Jordan Love perform in the game?
According to Wood and Silverstein, Jordan Love played just one series, completing 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to MarShawn Lloyd.
How many field goals did Trey Smack kick?
According to Wood and Silverstein, rookie kicker Trey Smack converted all seven of his field goal attempts, including successful tries from 51, 59, and 43 yards.
Which players did not play for the Packers?
According to Wood, inactive players for Green Bay included Micah Parsons, Javon Bullard, Josh Jacobs, Jayden Reed, Carrington Valentine, Matt Orzech, Zach Bako-Bewele, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Aaron Banks, Darian Kinnard, Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Devonte Wyatt, Jordon Riley, and Javon Hargrave.
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