The Denver Broncos looked stuck in neutral for much of Sunday, grinding through an uncharacteristically uneven performance against the Green Bay Packers. When it mattered most, Pat Surtain II flipped the game and Denver’s season with one decisive play.
The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year intercepted Jordan Love’s deep pass intended for Christian Watson late in the third quarter, igniting a rally that carried the Broncos to a 34-26 comeback victory. The win clinched a playoff berth for Denver and extended its winning streak to 11 games.
Bo Nix matched a career high with four touchdown passes, spreading the ball around to Michael Bandy, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin and Lil’Jordan Humphrey as the Broncos improved to 12-2. Denver moved a game ahead of New England for the top seed in the AFC and remained two games clear of the Chargers in the AFC West.
Green Bay fell to 9-4-1 and suffered a devastating blow when star pass rusher Micah Parsons went down with a non-contact knee injury while chasing Nix in the first half. Parsons had forced a fumble on Denver’s opening drive and had energized the Packers since arriving in a blockbuster trade earlier this season.
The Packers carried a 16-14 lead into halftime behind three field goals from former Broncos kicker Brandon McManus. They extended the advantage early in the third quarter with a touchdown drive to go up 23-14 and appeared poised to seize control after forcing a Denver three-and-out.
Instead, Surtain changed everything. On first down, Love took a deep shot to Watson, but Surtain laid out to make the interception, his first of the season, swinging momentum back to Denver. Nix capitalized with a touchdown drive to trim the deficit to 23-21.
Denver’s defense tightened from there. Riley Moss added his first interception of the season, the Broncos sacked Love three times, and Green Bay managed just one field goal over its final six possessions. The Packers went 1-for-4 in the red zone, while Denver converted all four of its red-zone trips into touchdowns.
The Broncos reclaimed the lead and eventually sealed the win with a 4-yard touchdown run by R.J. Harvey after McManus’ fourth field goal of the day had pulled Green Bay within one point.
The game featured six lead changes and reflected a familiar script for Denver, which has now won nine one-score games during its franchise-long winning streak.
Injuries
Packers: EDGE Micah Parsons suffered a non-contact knee injury. WR Christian Watson left with a chest injury and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. TE Josh Whyle exited with a concussion, and RT Zach Tom injured his knee.
Broncos: RB R.J. Harvey injured his ribs late in the game. ILB Justin Strnad (ankle) and S Brandon Jones (pectoral) were also injured and did not return.
Up Next
*Packers: Visit Chicago on Saturday.
Broncos: Host Jacksonville next Sunday.*
