Preseason Week 2 Recap: Five Key Takeaways from the Broncos’ 33-13 Loss to Green Bay
The Denver Broncos didn’t get the result they were looking for in their second preseason game.
Denver fell to the Green Bay Packers 33-13 on Friday night, struggling to consistently move the ball on offense while allowing Green Bay to find the end zone three times.
Preseason losses don't carry much weight in the grand scheme of things. The Broncos’ primary objective remains evaluating the roster rather than winning these games, and the coaching staff will be more concerned with individual performances than the final score.
Still, there were plenty of developments worth watching.
For a team entering the 2026 season with Super Bowl aspirations, these games provide an opportunity to evaluate both the strengths and weaknesses of the roster. Friday night’s loss offered plenty of both.
Here are five key takeaways from Denver’s loss to the Packers:
1. Bo Nix’s Performance in Limited Action Was Encouraging
Broncos fans didn’t get to see much of Bo Nix on Friday night.
But what they did see should leave them feeling pretty good.
Nix played just two series, completing 6 of 9 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown before being pulled from the action. Denver scored 10 of its 13 points across those two drives, providing a pretty telling glimpse of how different the offense looked with its starting quarterback under center.
Nix’s best throw of the night was a 35-yard strike to Jaylen Waddle on the Broncos’ opening possession, giving Denver an early preview of what the connection between the two could look like during the regular season.
Waddle’s speed was one of the biggest reasons the Broncos acquired him this offseason, and Nix showed exactly how dangerous that speed can be when he found his new weapon down the field.
It’s obviously difficult to draw sweeping conclusions from just two preseason drives. Nix didn't play long enough to put together a full performance, and Denver’s regular-season offense will look considerably different once the team’s entire starting lineup is on the field.
Still, this is exactly what Broncos fans wanted to see.
Nix looked comfortable. He looked decisive. And most importantly, he looked like the franchise quarterback Denver believes he can become.
After an encouraging 2025 campaign, expectations are high for Nix entering his third NFL season. The Broncos need him to take another step forward in 2026, particularly with the additions the team made around him this offseason.
One preseason appearance won’t tell anyone whether Nix is ready to make that leap.
But it certainly didn't provide any reason to doubt it.
2. The Gap Between Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham Is Pretty Steep
Jarrett Stidham has already made a strong case to be Denver’s backup quarterback in 2026.
But Friday night’s game also made it painfully clear just how much the Broncos’ offense changes when Bo Nix leaves the field.
Stidham had a strong performance against the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason opener, completing 9 of 15 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. That performance appeared to give him an edge over Sam Ehlinger in the backup quarterback competition.
His performance against Green Bay was a different story.
Stidham completed 9 of 15 passes for 82 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. Denver mustered just three points across the five drives Stidham was under center, a stark contrast from the 10 points the Broncos scored on Nix’s two possessions.
Preseason statistics should always be taken with a grain of salt, particularly when quarterbacks are playing with different combinations of teammates. But the eye test was also concerning.
That’s not necessarily an indictment of Stidham.
The veteran quarterback has proven that he can operate an NFL offense, and Denver’s decision to retain him as Nix’s backup makes sense.
But there’s a massive difference between having a capable backup quarterback and having a backup quarterback who can realistically replace a franchise quarterback for an extended period of time.
The Broncos learned that lesson the hard way last season.
Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the Divisional Round, forcing Stidham into the starting lineup for the 2025 AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. Denver ultimately lost 10-7, with Stidham committing two turnovers.
If Nix suffers another season-ending injury in 2026, the Broncos’ chances of winning Super Bowl LXI would take a massive hit.
Stidham may be the right player for the backup job.
But Friday night made it clear that Denver’s Super Bowl LXI hopes are heavily dependent on Nix staying healthy.
3. Jonah Coleman Failed to Build on His Encouraging Preseason Debut
Jonah Coleman gave Broncos fans plenty to be excited about in the preseason opener.
He rushed for 24 yards on just four carries against Atlanta, including 20 yards on his final two attempts. More importantly, he showed the balance, power and physicality that made him an intriguing fourth-round pick.
Unfortunately, Coleman wasn’t able to build on that momentum against the Packers.
The rookie rushed for just nine yards on three carries and caught one pass for -2 yards. The numbers tell the story: Coleman simply wasn't able to find the same success he did against the Falcons.
That’s not necessarily a reason to be concerned.
Preseason games can be strange, especially for young running backs working behind different offensive line combinations. One quiet performance shouldn’t erase the encouraging signs Coleman showed in his debut.
But it does make next Friday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings more interesting.
Coleman has now shown both sides of the equation. He knows what it feels like to have a strong preseason performance, and now he’ll have an opportunity to respond after a disappointing one.
How he responds against Minnesota could say a lot about what kind of player Denver has in Coleman.
4. Red Murdock Should Be a Lock for the 53-Man Roster
A week ago, Red Murdock was making a legitimate case for a spot on the Broncos’ 53-man roster.
Now?
He should be considered a lock.
Murdock followed up his eight-tackle performance against Atlanta with another strong showing against Green Bay, finishing the night with seven total tackles and continuing to demonstrate the instincts, physicality and tackling ability that have made him one of Denver’s most intriguing young defenders this preseason.
The Broncos selected Murdock with the final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, making him Mr. Irrelevant.
He certainly isn’t playing like it.
Murdock has consistently found himself around the football, and his ability to make reliable tackles has stood out throughout the preseason. Those traits could make him particularly valuable on special teams while he continues developing as a linebacker.
At this point, however, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to envision Denver cutting him.
In fact, Murdock may be positioning himself for an even bigger role.
If his preseason performance continues, there’s a legitimate possibility that he could enter Week 1 as the Broncos’ second-string inside linebacker.
That’s an impressive trajectory for a player who was the final selection of the 2026 NFL Draft just a few months ago.
5. Denver’s Starting Defense Has Some Work to Do
If there was one particularly concerning development from Friday night’s game, it was how easily the Packers’ starting offense moved the ball against the Broncos’ starting defense.
Green Bay marched 63 yards on 12 plays during its opening possession, with Packers quarterback Jordan Love capping the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to running back MarShawn Lloyd.
What’s particularly concerning is that Denver wasn’t even facing Green Bay’s offense at full strength.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs got the night off, meaning the Broncos’ starting defense wasn’t exactly going up against the best version of Green Bay’s starting offense.
Preseason results don’t mean much, and one defensive possession certainly isn't enough to draw sweeping conclusions about a unit that ranked among the NFL’s best in 2025.
Still, Denver’s defense will need to be better when the regular season begins.
There was at least one bright spot.
Patrick Surtain II finished the night with four total tackles and showed that he’s more than willing to get physical with opposing wide receivers.
Early in the first quarter, Surtain ripped the ball out of Packers wide receiver Christian Watson’s hands on the second play of Green Bay’s opening possession, appearing to force a fumble. However, officials determined after further review that Watson was down before Surtain stripped the ball, overturning the ruling on the field.
Later in the same drive, Surtain belted Watson out of bounds with what looked like regular-season-level intensity.
The sequence was a reminder that Surtain isn’t afraid to use his physicality in coverage.
For a Broncos defense with Super Bowl aspirations, the opening drive against the Packers should serve as a reminder that there is still work to do before the regular season begins.
