In the fourth quarter Sunday, when the Packers were continuing to fall apart, Broncos coach Sean Payton turned to his offense on the sideline. “I said, ‘You’re watching these guys right there,’’’ Payton said. “We all turned and looked. I said, ‘They’re gassed, and I said, ‘Kee p the pedal down.’” That’s what Denver did in a 34-26 win over Green Bay at Empower Field at Mile High. After the Broncos fell behind 24-13 early in the third quarter, they took advantage of the altitude and a raucous crowd to storm back and outscore the Packers 20-3 down the stretch. The win clinched a second straight playoff berth for the Broncos (12-2) and was their 11th in a row, their longest streak since an 11-game run in 2012. The victory put them in command of earning the No. 1 seed for the AFC playoffs. New England (11-3) lost 35-31 to Buffalo, meaning the Broncos, who hold the tiebreaker over the Patriots, would have to lose at least two of their final games not to be No. 1. “This was our first goal,” said Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. “We wanted to get to the playoffs. That’s the only way to get farther is to make the tournament. We are excited about that. That was goal number one.” Payton stressed the Broncos still haven’t achieved any of their three top goals of winning the AFC West, being the No. 1 seed and claiming a “world championship.’’ The way Nix is playing, all those are very realistic. Nix had his fourth straight big game, completing 23 of 34 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. He wasn’t sacked once as Denver’s offensive line did a brilliant job against the Packers (9-4-1), who were hampered by losing star pass rusher Micah Parsons in the final minute of the third quarter with an apparent torn left ACL. “The skill guys, they balled today, and the O-line played as good as they’ve played since I’ve been here,’’ said Nix, in his second season. “They kept me completely clean.” Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian said Sunday’s game “could be” a Super Bowl preview, although he didn’t want to get too far ahead of things. But he said it “definitely felt like a playoff game.” Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil’ Jordan Humphrey (17) makes a catch for a touchdown as Green Bay Packers cornerback, Carrington Valentine (24) and linebacker, Quay Walker try to make the stop in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, December 14, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) When it was over, the Broncos felt they had earned some additional respect. Despite their overall winning streak and being at home, where they now have the NFL’s longest winning streak at 11, they were a 2 ½-point underdog. Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga said being an underdog was “humbling for us.” Guard Quinn Meinerz said it “made no sense” and “was odd” being “2 ½-point dogs at home.” Before the game, the Broncos also thought they were being disrespected when they accused Green Bay players of coming to their side of the field to interrupt pregame drills. There was a skirmish between players on the two sides, although it was quickly broken up. “(If) you’re going to disrespect us and cut through our drills, it’s not right,’’ said Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. Still, the Packers took a 24-13 lead just 1:01 into the third quarter on a 40-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs. After Denver had a three-and-out and Green Bay got the ball back at its own 19, Jordan Love threw a long pass downfield. Star cornerback Pat Surtain II made a lunging interception at the Broncos 29 on a play in which Packers receiver Christian Watson was lost for the game with a chest injury. “Obviously, it was a pivotal situation,’’ Surtain said. “We needed to make a play. They were up by two possessions and we got to find a way. I saw the ball in the air and I had to make a play.” Nix called it a “huge” play that got the “crowd back into it.” He cracked about Surtain, “We may have to use him on offense.” After that, Nix went to work. His 14-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton with 9:07 left in the third quarter cut the deficit to 23-21. Sutton had seven catches for 113 yards. Nix’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Troy Franklin on the final play of the third quarter gave the Broncos the lead for good at 27-23. A 2-point conversion run by RJ Harvey was unsuccessful. Shortly before Franklin’s touchdown, Parsons went down without any contact while chasing after Nix. Players on both teams got on their knees in prayer when Parsons was being looked at on the field. Players then wished him the best before he was helped off the field by two athletic trainers and taken to the locker room. “It doesn’t look good,’’ Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Parsons’ injury. “So I’ll leave it at that. … We all know what type of player he is and the impact he’s had on our football team and to lose somebody like that, it’s tough. (But) nobody’s going to feel sorry for us.” After Parsons’ injury, the Packers, already worn down, were close to being done. Former Broncos kicker Brandon McManus did make a 37-yard field goal, his fourth of the day, to cut the deficit to 27-26 with 10:55 left in the game. But Harvey, who carried 19 times for 65 yards but lost a fumble on Denver’s opening drive, closed the scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run with 7:27 remaining. And the Packers had their four-game winning streak end. Payton said Denver’s defense in the second half “rebooted.” After allowing 251 yards in the first half, the Broncos gave up just 111 in the second half. Take away the first drive of the second half, when Jacobs scored on his 40-yard run, and the Broncos allowed just 40 yards the rest of the game. “There were a lot of nerves earlier,’’ McMillian said. “We knew it was a big game and there was a lack of communication. But you got to give them credit. That’s a good offense.” Love completed 24 of 40 passes for 276 yards but threw two interceptions, the other going to cornerback Riley Moss in the fourth quarter. And Jacobs rushed for 73 yards but had just 12 after his long touchdown run. “I thought we were the better offense,’’ Payton said. Nix spread the ball around, including to some unsung receivers. With Pat Bryant out with a hamstring injury, he had second-quarter touchdown passes of 20 yards to Michael Bandy, elevated from the practice squad Saturday, and 5 yards to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. The one to Humphrey gave the Broncos a 14-13 lead with 1:56 left in the first half before McManus’ third field goal with two seconds left in the first half put Green Bay up 16-14. But in the end, the Broncos wore out the “gassed” Packers and they perhaps showed something to the oddsmakers. “I don’t think they’re going to underdog us anymore,’’ said tackle Mike McGlinchey. ...read more read less