Winners of ten straight, the Denver Broncos continue to impress in 2025. Their first AFC West title in a decade is within reach as well as the number one seed in the AFC. This week’s matchup is a tough draw for Denver with the NFC North leading Green Bay Packers heading to town. Let’s take a deeper look at Denver’s Week 15 opponent and what the Broncos need to accomplish to earn a victory.
2024 Green Bay Packers Season
ReviewThe Green Bay Packers finished their 2024 season at 11-6 and a third-place
finish in the NFC North. They lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles. On offense, they ranked eighth in points scored and fifth in total yards. On defense, they were sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed.
2025 Offseason Additions and Departures
The big splash for the Packers was acquiring premier edge rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in late August right before the regular season began. That cost them two first-round draft picks and Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. After the trade was official, Parsons and Green Bay agreed to a four-year, $188 million dollar contract extension.
Prior to that, the Packers also made several large investments in free agency. Signing offensive guard Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million dollar deal was their big move on offense. On defense, they added cornerback Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million dollar deal.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, they sought to upgrade their wide receiver corps long-term by adding Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third round. Neither have made that great of an impact during their rookie campaigns. With their second-round selection, they bolstered their offensive line depth by taking N.C. State’s Anthony Belton.
It’s clear by the moves the team made that the Packers feel they are true Super Bowl Contenders. Their 9-3-1 record thus far certainly indicates that could very well be the case. This gridiron matchup for Denver presents a big challenge, and they will have to limit two dynamic X-Factor’s to come away with their twelfth win of the season.
Offensive X-Factor: Quarterback Jordan Love
Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL. The Packers have themselves a very good one after decades of quality play from Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Fifth-year pro and three-year starter Jordan Love is having himself a tremendous season.
To date, Love has thrown for 3,028 yards with 22 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. He has reeled off four game winning drives and fourth quarter comebacks in ’25. Not only that, but the veteran signal caller has been tough to sack, with opponents getting to him just 18 times this season.
Love has done well divvying up targets to his receivers. While the Packers don’t have a sure-fire star in their receiving corps, they are five deep with Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Dontavion Wicks, Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams. Veteran receiver Jayden Reed should also be available for the game as he works his way back from a shoulder injury.
Additionally, running back Joshua Jacobs and tight end Luke Musgrave get volume in the receiving game. One of the reasons for Green Bay’s success on offense is the variety of weapons they have. Love has exceled going up against man coverage, which Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph runs a lot of. How Joseph plans to get after Love and call his coverages will be interesting to see.
It’ll be hard to force Love into mistakes, but if the Broncos want to win, the defense coming up with a turnover and limiting Love’s efficiency is an absolute must.
Defensive X-Factor: EDGE Micah Parsons
Adding All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons into the fold has given the Packers one of the better defenses in the NFL. The fifth-year pro is having a phenomenal ’25 campaign posting 12.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 26 quarterback hits in thirteen games.
Even when Parsons doesn’t get home for a sack, his ability to generate pressure consistent. He already has 78 pressures despite being double teamed over 20-percent of his snaps. There is no doubt this is the defensive player the Broncos will have to account for the most.
Denver’s offensive line has faced a lot of great interior defensive lineman and edge rushers this season, but Parsons will be the best they’ve seen to date. They can’t afford to let him run roughshod over their offensive gameplan. Packers Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley likes to mix up the way he deploys Parsons. He lines up all over the place.
With that in mind, I fully expect Bo Nix to get the ball out quickly and see the Broncos in heavier personnel groupings with an added blocker into the mix. Parsons is a one-man wrecking crew, and the last thing Denver needs is him crashing their offensive plans on Sunday.
How the Broncos can secure a victory over the Packers
The Packers are a very good team. They don’t turn the ball over a lot, are opportunistic forcing turnovers, and do a great job sustaining drives. They also play good coverage and get after the quarterback. Those are a few reasons they are one of the best teams in the NFC.
In order for the Broncos to win, I think several things need to happen. Last week, the Broncos had over 150 yards on the ground against the Las Vegas Raiders. To topple the Packers, success on the ground will be crucial. Winning the time of possession battle and keeping Love and Green Bay’s offense on the sideline is a must.
When Love is on the field, the Broncos’ fierce pass rush has to find a way to disrupt him. The Packers’ offensive line has done a great job protecting him all season. Though I feel some interior pressure against Jordan Morgan could be had. I’d expect a few delayed blitzes from Denver’s linebackers and some twists on the defensive line to help make that happen.
Last but not least, I’m optimistic some of Denver’s pass rush success can translate to a turnover. It’s been rare forcing Love into mistakes, but the defense finding a way to come up with a game-changing play would be huge.
My recipe for success: Establish the run and protect the ball on offense. Rattle Love and force a turnover on defense. If Denver can do those things, I believe they will punch their ticket to the postseason.
Hart’s Prediction: Broncos 24, Packers 20.
