The only pundit that truly means something, to Bo Nix, is Krista Nix. So does it add any fuel that his Broncos — his 11-2, currently No. 1 seeded Broncos — are actually betting underdogs against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday? “I don’t really care,” Nix smiled Wednesday. “My mom thinks we’ll win. So that’s all that really matters.” From one standpoint, Vegas’s disbelief in a team riding a 10-game win-streak and playing at home Sunday could only add more fuel to a growing fire inside the locker room. These Broncos, including Nix himself, have scoffed in recent weeks at any notion that their wins have come by way of a soft schedule. Or been carried by their defense. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto’s Twitter fingers after a mid-November win over Kansas City — What they gon’ say now? — were the most public iteration of a growing private defiance to any external expectations of this roster. From another standpoint, though, Vegas’s disbelief simply points to how good this Packers team is. Green Bay is 9-3-1, riding a four-game win streak, and riding a rivalry high after silencing the Chicago Bears last weekend. They have one of the most destructive defenders in football in edge rusher Micah Parsons, and one of the most efficient quarterbacks in football in 27-year-old Jordan Love. So yes, the Packers have the bookies’ backing. The Broncos, though, have Empower Field. “I think the atmosphere is going to be electric,” Nix said. “I think our fans are going to be extremely motivated, and very hostile. Probably similar to the Chiefs game a few weeks ago. “This will be what – seems to be a playoff game.” Indeed, Denver will get a look at one of the many variations of a potential Super Bowl matchup on Sunday. Most of the Broncos’ heaviest games on the 2025 schedule have come at away venues: the Colts in Week 2, the Chargers in Week 3, the Eagles in Week 5. In mid-November, though, those Kansas City Chiefs walked into a maelstrom at Empower Field, an environment that head coach Sean Payton called “significant” in Denver’s eventual 22-19 win. “We’re counting on our crowd this week,” Payton said. “Not just at the line of scrimmage, but while we’re in the huddle. “I go back to a few weeks ago, and that communication that exists from the opponent when they’re in the huddle,” Payton continued. “You’d be surprised when some team’s stadiums haven’t figured out – the quarterback to the group in the huddle, if that all gets blurred, you have problems.” Hostile environments haven’t exactly affected the Packers’ offensive operation, though; Love has a 113.9 quarterback rating when playing on the road this season, and Green Bay has averaged 28.3 points per game at opposing venues. This is titan-on-titan. The Packers average the most yardage of any NFL offense on third downs this season, and are tied for fourth in the league in red-zone touchdowns (32). The Broncos, meanwhile, average the fourth-lowest yardage of any NFL defense on third downs this season, and have allowed the fewest red-zone touchdowns in the league (15). Asked this week about his plan for attacking Denver’s defense, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur replied, “that’s a hell of a question.” “I think everybody’s trying to figure that out right now,” LaFleur said. “They do a great job. Vance does a hell of a job putting his guys in position. And there’s not really a weak link out there, when you look at their front, their ‘backers, their back end. You’ve got players across the board.” Related Articles Broncos practice squad QB Sam Ehlinger turns down offer to return to Colts Broncos LG Ben Powers returns to practice, team opens window to return off IR Nuggets, Avs and Broncos are off to hot starts. Is this the best they’ve ever been at the same time? Broncos’ Marvin Mims Jr. named AFC special teams player of the week Should Broncos fans cheer for Chiefs to (improbably) make the playoffs or fully flame out? Las Vegas, however, found success on an opening touchdown drive by attacking Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton in coverage. Later in the drive, safety Talanoa Hufanga was late to rotate on a touchdown grab from tight end Brock Bowers. As Payton said Wednesday, there were passing-game reps that the Broncos “needed to clean up.” “We better be able to,” Payton said. “We’re going to see a really good passing attack this week, relative to maybe, who we defended in the prior.” The Broncos face a gauntlet to close this season, beyond Green Bay. This clash with the Cheeseheads, though, might be the best test of the bunch. “It’s pretty much going to be like playoff football, and that’s what you get in December,” Nix said. Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis. ...read more read less