Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Packers at Empower Field at Mile High.
FINAL | Broncos 34, Packers 26
Pat Surtain II, Broncos defense shows championship mettle in second-half torrent vs. Packers
Bo Nix threw four touchdowns as the Broncos outgunned the Packers, 34-26, on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High to clinch a playoff berth and take sole possession of the top seed in the AFC.
Nix completed 23 of 34 passes for 302 yards in a game that saw six lead changes. Four different Denver receivers had touchdowns, led by Courtland Sutton, who had seven catches for 113 yards.
The Broncos improved to 12-2 on the season. The Packers fall to 9-4-1.
Next up for Denver: Hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday.
More Broncos coverage:
- Pat Surtain II, Broncos defense show championship mettle in second-half torrent vs. Packers.
- Renck: With Bo Nix, offense playing like this, itap time to start looking for Broncos Super Bowl tickets.
- Keeler: Broncos, Alex Singleton get last laugh as Packers’ pregame intimidation hilariously backfires.
- Why Sean Payton, Broncos put their trust in Courtland Sutton in win over Packers: ‘Find 14.’
- DzԳDz’ Riley Moss rides ups and downs again en route to key interception in win over Packers.
- PHOTOS: Denver Broncos clinched playoff berth after defeating the Green Bay Packers 34-26 in NFL Week 15.
- Broncos-Packers report card: Bo Nix authors best game of his NFL career.
- Broncos four downs: Bo Nix’s best NFL game carries Denver to 11th straight win.
- Broncos safety Brandon Jones, linebacker Justin Strnad, receiver Marvin Mims banged up vs. Packers.
- Packers pass rushing standout Micah Parsons hurts left knee against Broncos.
Live updates
Fourth-quarter updates
No good (5:42 p.m.): Incompletion. Ballgame. Denver's going to 12-2 and have clinched a playoff berth and now have sole possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC. — Nguyen
Fourth down (5:42 p.m.): Three straight incompletions for the Packers. It's fourth-and-15. — Nguyen
Fourth down (5:38 p.m.): Denver was aggressive and it didn't pay off. The Broncos went for it on fourth-and-1 and Adam Prentice was stopped for a loss. 1:07 to go for the Packers. — Nguyen
Quite a day (5:36 p.m.): Given the time, place, opponent, stakes, this is Broncos best game since 2015 and the finest of Bo Nix's career. -- Renck
Injury (5:36 p.m.): Broncos Harvey, per broadcast, dealing with a rib injury. — Renck
Sacked (5:32 p.m.): Zach Allen and Jonathon Cooper take down Jordan Love for an 11-yard sack on fourth down. Denver ball with 2:28 to go. — Nguyen
Sacked (5:31 p.m.): Dondrea Tillman takes down Jordan Love for an 8-yard loss. — Nguyen
Picked off (5:22 p.m.): Riley Moss picks off Jordan Love, after the ball deflects off of Dontayvion Wicks' hands. — Nguyen
Run, rookie, run (5:21 p.m.): Lost in the best game of Bo Nix's career. RJ Harvey has 18 carries for 62 yards. Given Denver balance and recovered from first-drive fumble. -- Renck
Side note (5:20 p.m.): apountry is apparently getting an evening with Gardner Minshew under their tree at Christmas. Mahomes tore his ACL.
And closer to home, Parsons IS out (knee). -- Keeler
Touchdown, Broncos (5:18 p.m.): RJ Harvey powered his way for a 4-yard touchdown run to cap off a nine-play, 65-yard drive. Broncos 34, Packers 26 with 7:27 to go. — Nguyen
Climbing the rankings (5:16 p.m.): Courtland Sutton has seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown today. He moves past Ed McCaffrey in No. 5 all-time in franchise history for receiving yards (6,226). — Nguyen
Awful pass (5:15 p.m.): Why Bo Nix went to Courtland Sutton on that play is beyond me. Nearly picked off. — Nguyen
Challenge verdict (5:14 p.m.): The ruling on the field stands. Weird challenge. — Nguyen
Fourth-down conversion (5:11 p.m.): On fourth-and-3, Bo Nix connects with Courtland Sutton for a 26-yard gain. This game, man.
Green Bay is challenging. It looks like a clear catch on the replay. — Nguyen
Field goal, Packers (5:02 p.m.): Brandon McManus nails his fourth field goal of the day. This one's a 37-yarder. Nine plays for 46 yard on the drive. Broncos 27, Packers 26 with 10:55 to go in the fourth quarter. — Nguyen
Difference in this game so far:
Broncos are 3/3 in the red zone. Packers are 1/4.
Denver leads 27-26 with 10:55 to go. — Gabriel
Injury (5:01 p.m.): D.J. Jones looked like he tweaked his back after stopping Josh Jacobs on that last play there. — Nguyen
Big hit (4:58 p.m.): Dre Greenlaw just delivered a monster hit on Josh Jacobs. — Nguyen
Third-quarter thoughts — Broncos 27, Packers 23
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: This is one heck of a game. Buckle up.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Since PS2 notched that interception, the Broncos have outscored Green Bay 13-0. Parsons is officially "questionable" to return, but his gait and mood leaving the field looked more like "doubtful." Love is capable of going Mahomes for 2-3 series at a time, so nothing's safe. But it's looking slightly less unsafe, at least.
Troy Renck, sports columnist: This is the most physical game I have covered since the 2015 season. Just absolute collisions and exchanging insurance papers on endless plays.
Third-quarter updates
Touchdown, Broncos (4:52 p.m.): Bo Nix is having a game. His fourth touchdown pass, this one a 23-yard throw to Troy Franklin. Eleven plays for 70 yards on the drive. Two-point conversion is no good. Broncos 27, Packers 23 to close the quarter. — Nguyen
Mimsy (4:47 p.m.): Neat spin move by Marvin Mims Jr. to get the first down. Micah Parsons hurt on the play. — Nguyen
And because there haven't been enough injuries in this game, Micah Parsons is ... down. -- Keeler
With Marvin Mims Jr getting nice gain to the 18, Micah Parsons hurting on the field. He is holding his left leg.. He went down without contact and grabbed his left knee. ... injuries stink. Parsons went down as Patrick Mahomes tweeted about his own serious leg injury. ... A lot of respect for Parsons as six Broncos went up to see if he was OK. -- Renck
Driving (4:45 p.m.): Seven plays for 35 yards on this drive. Broncos are in Green Bay territory. — Nguyen
Sacked (4:36 p.m.): It took a while, but the Broncos finally got a sack. Jonah Ellis took down Jordan Love for a 10-yard loss and forcing fourth down and a punt. — Nguyen
With sellout crowd of 75,555 in full throat, Broncos get their first sack of day by either team. Goes to Alex Singleton on a blitz with a twist, but Elliss had Jordan Love by legs. First punt of the day, and Mims had the fair catch. -- Renck
The Broncos didn't get to Jordan Love on any of his first 30 drop-backs. They finally got home on No. 31. — Gabriel
Third-down conversion (4:34 p.m.): Jordan Love's pretty good. He just scrambled for 24 yards on third-and-13. — Nguyen
Touchdown, Broncos (4:27 p.m.): Bo Nix finds Courtland Sutton for the 14-yard touchdown. Seven plays for 71 yards on the drive. Packers 23, Broncos 21 with 9:07 to go in the third quarter. We've got a slobberknocker in Denver. — Nguyen
Big gains (4:24 p.m.): Bo Nix using his legs to extend back-to-back plays. The first, he reversed the field and connected with Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 22-yard gain. Then he hit Troy Franklin for 18. — Nguyen
Just a heck of a play by Bo Nix. Reverses field and fires dart to Humphrey. Then a rope-a-dope on an 18-yard pass to Troy Franklin. — Renck
Interception (4:20 p.m.): And that's why you don't throw at Pat Surtain II. Jordan Love tried to go deep to Christian Watson. But Surtain stretched out and got an incredible pick. Watson is down on the play. — Nguyen
Touchdown, Packers (4:10 p.m.): Josh Jacobs explodes for a 40-yard touchdown run. Three plays for 71 yards on the drive. Packers 23, Broncos 14 with 13:59 to go in the third quarter. — Nguyen
That is a terrible call on Moss. Joining several on him this season. And then next play, Josh Jacobs barrels 40-yard TD run. Unfortunate turn of events. Packers 23, Broncos 14. -- Renck
Pass interference (4:09 p.m.): Riley Moss gets dinged for a pass interference call. Awful call. — Nguyen
Halftime thoughts — Packers 16, Broncos 14
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: First-half QB stats:
- Jordan Love: 17/22 for 215, TD, no sacks.
- Bo Nix: 11/12 for 122, 2 TDs, no sacks.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Names we usually hear a lot but haven't so far — 1. Bonitto; 2. Allen; 3. Cooper. For the first time in a long time, an offensive line has made the strength of the Broncos' team a non-factor. Allen's got zero tackles at the half, which is a rare goose-egg, indeed. Shame, too, as that was probably Bo Nix's best half of the season: 11-for-12 passing for two scores.
Troy Renck, sports columnist: First Half Thoughts: Bo Nix has met the challenge. The Packers offensive speed is a problem. No team has run up and down the field in a first half like this since the Colts.
Second-quarter updates
Field goal, Packers (3:51 p.m.): Brandon McManus makes his third field goal of the day, this one a 34-yarder, to give Green Bay the lead. Packers 16, Broncos 14 with two seconds to go in the half. — Nguyen
QB battle (3:48 p.m.): Easily the best QB play in a Broncos game so far this season.
Bo Nix and Jordan Love are both hoopin'. — Gabriel
Touchdown, Broncos (3:42 p.m.): Bo Nix threads the needle, connecting with Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 5-yard touchdown. Six plays for 72 yards on that drive. Broncos 14, Packers 13 with 1:56 to go in the half. — Nguyen
Near pick (3:38 p.m.): Bo Nix almost gets pick-sixed but instead he finds Troy Franklin, who got a 10-yard gain. (But it looked like he wasn't down.) — Nguyen
Franklin never looked "down" from either of the scoreboard replays, but, ah, well. -- Keeler
Huge gain (3:36 p.m.): Bo Nix finds Courtland Sutton for a monster 42-yard gain. They connect for 5 yards on the next play. — Nguyen
Touchdown, Packers (3:30 p.m.): Jordan Love finds Josh Jacobs for a 14-yard touchdown to cap a nine-play, 75-yard drive. — Nguyen
Holding on second-and-14… Broncos decline holding penalty… so leaves third-and-14 from 14 and Jordan Love connects on wheel route to Josh Jacobs for touchdown as he cradled ball on Dre Greenlaw’s back for a score. Was first-guessing in press box of DzԳDz’ Sean Payton for not taking the penalty. -- Renck
3rd-and-goal at the 14 or 2nd-and-goal from the 24? Conventional wisdom says push 'em back. Can't wait to hear Sean Payton's response postgame for not following "conventional wisdom." -- Keeler
No TD (3:27 p.m.): If Josh Jacobs goes into Hall of Fame his speech will start by thanking his family and then the Broncos. But his TD run negated by an illegal shift. Ball back at 15-yard line. -- Renck
Chippy (3:24 p.m.): Who throws a punch first? Dre Greenlaw or Ja'Quan McMillan? So chippy out there right now. -- Keeler
Huge gain (3:22 p.m.): Jordan Love finds Jayden Reed for a big 29-yard catch-and-run. — Nguyen
Touchdown, Broncos (3:15 p.m.): Bo Nix avoids the rush, finds Michael Bandy for the 20-yard catch-and-run score. Ten plays for 70 yards on that drive. Broncos 7, Packers 6 with 8:19 to go in the second quarter. — Nguyen
The Bandito is loose. Michael Bandy gets the Brocnos on the board with his first career NFL touchdown. Just like everybody expected. — Gabriel
Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy rescue the Broncos! Totally in the script. -- Keeler
Big gain (3:13 p.m.): Bo Nix finds Lil'Jordan Humphrey for a 15-yard gain. Denver's driving. — Nguyen
First down (3:11 p.m.): Easy short completion on third-and-5 from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton. — Nguyen
Injury (3:11 p.m.): Marvin Mims Jr takes big hit and is now in the blue tent after his short run. -- Renck
Penalty (3:08 p.m.): Unnecessary roughness call on Javon Bollard, who drives Troy Franklin into the ground after that last play. — Nguyen
Field goal, Packers (3:04 p.m.): Denver's defense bends but doesn't break. A 10-play, 89-yard drive results in a 26-yard field goal by Brandon McManus. Packers 6, Broncos 0 with 14:11 to go in the first half. — Nguyen
Huge deflection (3:03 p.m.): Riley Moss with a nice deflection on that pass toward the end zone. — Nguyen
First-quarter thoughts — Packers 3, Broncos 0
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: First-quarter thought: When you start the game with the ball, 5:34 in first-quarter possession is no bueno. Packers have dominated time of possession and the game so far. Broncos need a red zone stop in a big way.
Luca Evans, beat writer: Sean Payton said Wednesday there were things that needed cleaning up in #Broncos' pass defense vs. Raiders last week.
Said "we better be able to," before facing Packers.
Jordan Love is attacking soft spots right now. Packers up 3-0 at end of Q1, deep in Denver territory.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Too much time. Way, way, way, way too much time. Packers QB Jordan Love is doing Patrick Mahomes 2019-2022 things to Vance Joseph's defense right now. Meanwhile, the Broncos had the ball for 5:26 of the first 15 minutes. It felts like less.
Troy Renck, sports columnist: Broncos off to poor start. Two drives, and one first down. Already have blown a timeout and RJ Harvey lost a fumble. Defensively, the Packers speed offensively is a problem in coverage.
First-quarter updates
Injuries (2:55 p.m.): PS2 got Muay Thai-ed. Strnad (ankle) now questionable.
(Muay Thaied = Knee to the head.) — Keeler
ILB Justin Strnad is questionable to return with an ankle injury, per the team. — Gabriel
This game has the intensity of a playoff matchup based on the early hitting. -- Renck
Another one (2:52 p.m.): And then Love throws off his back foot to Romeo Doubs for another 26-yard gain. — Nguyen
Huge gain (2:51 p.m.): Jordan Love finds Luke Musgrave for a 26-yard gain. — Nguyen
Injury (2:49 p.m.): Justin Strnad down on the punt coverage there. He threw his helmet into the ground, then couldn't put any weight on his right leg on the way off the field with trainers. He's into the blue medical tent now. — Gabriel
Penalty (2:47 p.m.): Dumb penalty on Packers' Kingsley Enagbare, who gives punter Jeremy Crawshaw a shove after he punted the ball. — Nguyen
Three-and-out (2:46 p.m.): Three plays for 6 yards on Denver's drive. — Nguyen
Field goal, Packers (2:42 p.m.): Packers kicker Brandon McManus nails the 53-yard field goal. Eight plays for 17 yards on the drive. Packers 3, Broncos 0 with 7:02 to go in the first quarter. — Nguyen
Former Broncos mainstay Brandon McManus knocks home a 53-yard FG and the Packers have a 3-0 lead. But that could've been a lot worse after RJ Harvey fumble and Packers were moving the ball.
Talanoa Hufanga singlehandedly stuffed that Green Bay drive. — Evans
Third-and-no (2:39 p.m.): Wow! Talanoa Hufanga blows up the Packers' play, taking out Josh Whyle and launching him into Josh Jacobs. Whyle is down after the play. — Nguyen
Talanoa Hufanga demolishes Josh Whyle and crashes him into Josh Jacobs for a two-yard loss. It will be fourth-and-3 from 35-yard line. That was absolute car wreck. -- Renck
Talanoa Hufanga's a nice, relatively quiet guy off the field. On it, he does stuff like that. Obliterates a third-down run by de-cleating (and injuring) TE Josh Whyle and taking out Josh Jacobs in the process. Wow. — Gabriel
Fourth down (2:36 p.m.): Jordan Love rolls left on third-and-1 and narrowly gets the first down. — Nguyen
Fumble (2:31 p.m.): RJ Harvey gets the first down on the run, but Micah Parsons strips the ball and the Packers recover. Not a good opening drive for Denver. — Nguyen
Micah Parsons rips ball out of R.J. Harvey's hands on third-and-1 carry. Packers recover. Way too many Packers fans here based on the "Go Pack Go!" chants. -- Renck
Broncos start by burning a timeout and losing a fumble on their opening drive. Not ideal. — Gabriel
Pre-game dustup (2:28 p.m.): So dustup started when Rashan Gary and between two Broncos players, including Alex Singleton. Singleton pushed him as he ran through. And that led to heated confrontation between Dre Greenlaw and Kingsley Enagbare. -- Renck
Run first (2:28 p.m.): Three plays, three runs for the Broncos. First down. — Nguyen
Coin toss (2:25 p.m.): Packers win the toss and elect to kick. Broncos to start with the ball. — Nguyen
Pre-game updates
Eye on the NFL (2:23 p.m.): Press box crew had one eye on the end of the Chiefs game here. Karma in this league is a fickle mistress, kids. When it's your year, and a window like 2025 opens up, don't walk through it. Run. Take it all, baby. Here we go. -- Keeler
Chirping (1:50 p.m.): We have some pregame extracurriculars.
Broncos and Packers mixing it up a half an hour before kickoff. Nik Bonitto was barking with some guys. Saw Ja'Quan McMillian in there too.
Not sure what prompted it. — Evans
Inactives (12:57 p.m.): Mike McGlinchey is officially active.
Broncos inactives:
- WR Pat Bryant (hamstring)
- QB Sam Ehlinger (PS)
- CB Reese Taylor
- DL Sai'Vion Jones
- DL Jordan Jackson
- OLB Que Robinson
- OL Geron Christian
The Packers will have both of their running backs today. Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson are both active. — Gabriel
Injury update (12:43 p.m.): RT Mike McGlinchey's going through his run block routine and putting a decent amount of force on Frank Crum has he works.
Certainly looks like he's going to give it a go. — Gabriel
Pack attack (12:43 p.m.): It is impossible to miss today’s opponent. Every pack of fans outside included Packers backers. Few teams travel lime Green Bay. But the homefield advantage will be real for Denver if it takes lead early. — Renck
McGlinchey update (12:39 p.m.): Broncos RT Mike McGlinchey's warming up and has his cleats on. He's got his right shoulder area taped up under his shirt. We'll see for sure in 15 minutes if he's active, but looks like he's going to give it a go. — Gabriel
Injury update (12:34 p.m.): Looking a bit into the future, TE Lucas Krull is walking around with no notable brace or protection on his foot. He was doing conditioning work on the side field during the week. Could be a candidate to get back from IR at some point in the coming weeks. — Gabriel
Reunion (12:21 p.m.): Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad chatting with former Broncos kicker Brandon McManus during early warmups. — Gabriel
Injury update (11:55 a.m.): RT Mike McGlinchey, questionable with a shoulder injury, worked out early here with OL coaches Zach Strief and Chris Morgan watching.
Strief and Morgan now chatting with VP of player health and performance Beau Lowery and GM George Paton. — Gabriel
Goooood morning all (11:47 a.m.): It's a beautiful Sunday at a soon-to-be rocking Empower Field. One key update early: Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey is out doing a workout in sneakers here. He landed on the injury report Friday as questionable with a shoulder injury vs. Green Bay. Status is very important against a fierce Packers pass-rush. — Evans
Scouting report (10:25 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Packers in Luca Evans' scouting report.
Game predictions
Parker Gabriel, Broncos writer: Broncos 21, Packers 20
Really, really considered going with the Vegas line and taking Green Bay. This one could go about 19 different ways. Except then I came across the Postap preseason week-by-week preview, in which a certain beat reporter wondered if this might feel like a potential Super Bowl preview and also predicted a Brandon McManus miss from 55 yards to seal a Denver win. No way we can backtrack on that one now.
Luca Evans, Broncos writer: Packers 24, Broncos 21
There’s no world in which this game isn’t close, one way or another. Itap a toss-up. But the Packers’ strengths as a team go toe-to-toe with the DzԳDz’ strengths, and the Packers’ defensive weaknesses -- the intermediate passing game — aren’t the DzԳDz’ strengths. Going with simple logical processes here.
Troy Renck, sports columnist: Broncos 20, Packers 18
The Broncos and Packers are mirror images. The Packers are more explosive offensively, but the Broncos are better defensively. Teams that beat Green Bay drag them into the mud. With Green Bay coming off a euphoric win over the Bears, it is likely they will be flat early, especially if Pat Surtain II blankets Christian Watson, and in trouble late.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Broncos 22, Packers 21
Sean Payton is 6-1 with the Broncos against NFC opponents at home, and 6-0 in NFC home games played after Week 4. The only time Jordan Love faced a pass rush comparable to the DzԳDz’ Mile High Maulers, the Packers QB got sacked five times at Cleveland. Bo Nix wobbles but hangs in there, only to drive the Broncos down the field in the dying seconds for a game-winning, walk-off Wil Lutz field goal.
Broncos-Packers NFL Week 15: Must-reads
Inside Broncos WR Courtland Sutton’s quest for mental mastery: ‘Be where your feet are’
Sutton has played in 110 of a possible 117 games (excluding a torn ACL in 2020) in his years in Denver. He now ranks sixth all-time in Broncos history in receiving yards, while playing for 11 different starting quarterbacks in eight seasons. He’s had five offensive coordinators and five head coaches. And he has never once requested a trade in those eight seasons, sources close to Sutton told The Denver Post.
Sutton’s presence -- from Vic Fangio to Sean Payton, from Pat Bowlen to the Penners — sticks in the minds of those who’ve shared a locker with his corner cubby in Denver. Read Luca Evans' story.
DzԳDz’ top-ranked third-down defense faces big challenge in prolific Packers
The Broncos defense is among the best in football. Its leader, coordinator Vance Joseph, says Sunday is the group’s biggest challenge to date in 2025.
The Green Bay offense will undoubtedly look different if running back Josh Jacobs doesn’t play -- he’s missed the first two days of practice this week with a knee injury — but itap become one of the NFL’s most dangerous because of its balance. Read Parker Gabriel's story.
The Mad Fanatic cultivated a following rapping about the Broncos, and built Bronco Gang along the way
Spitting bars about the Broncos brought Andrew Young back from the edge of insanity — and tacked on a worldwide football family in the process.
In 2010, Young had just spent two stints in a psychiatric hospital for what doctors later discovered was cannabis-induced psychosis. When he got out the second time, amid what he describes as “the darkest funk of my life,” the medications he was taking after being initially misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder were only adding to his depression.
But there was one combination that re-centered the longtime singer/songwriter: watching the Broncos and rapping about them. Read Kyle Newman's story.
