The Broncos just keep on winning.
The Green Bay Packers came into this game on a hot streak and were favored by Vegas, while the Broncos were still being called frauds, doubted, and underdogs despite being 11-2
and at home. In the end, the Broncos do what they do and continue to win. They improved to 12-2 on the year, won their 11th straight game, clinched a postseason berth, and quarterback Bo Nix had the best game of his career.
With all that said, here are the winners and maybe a couple of losers from the Broncos 34-26 victory over the Packers.
WINNER – QB Bo Nix
What a game!
All we heard this week was about Micah Parsons, this defense, and how great the Packers are. Bo Nix said the hell with that and dropped 4 touchdowns and threw for 300+ yards on this tough Packers defense. Nix looked comfortable, in control, and made multiple big passes down the field.
This was Bo Nix’s best game of his career.
This was a postseason-like atmosphere against one of the better teams in the NFC and likely the Broncos’ toughest test thus far. We heard about their weak schedule, lack of explosive plays, being frauds, and yet, Nix silenced the doubters and played great.
Nix finished the game by going 23-34 for 302 yards, 4 touchdown passes, a 134.7 QB rating, and an additional 10 rushing yards. He played well and if he plays like this moving forward, the Broncos will be legit Super Bowl contenders.
WINNER – Vance Joseph’s rebound
In the first half, the Packers and quarterback Jordan Love were slicing and dicing the Denver Broncos defense. While the red zone defense played well and held them to field goals, running back Josh Jacobs continued to victimize the Broncos and had 2 touchdowns in this game. However, in the second half, outside of a BS DPI call on Moss that erased a 4th down and quickly led to a touchdown, the Broncos’ defense played out of their mind.
They held Love to 60 yards in the second half, had 2 interceptions, 3 sacks, and slowed down the Packers’ rushing attack. Joseph was trending towards being a loser in the first half, but those second-half adjustments were huge and a big reason why the Broncos won this game.
WINNER – PS2
The Packers just scored a touchdown after an awful DPI call on Riley Moss, and the Broncos had one of their lifeless three-and-outs on offense. Things looked rough, but the tide started to turn after the reigning Defensive Player of the Year made the biggest play (so far) of his season.
Quarterback Jordan Love would go deep to his favorite target, Christian Watson, but PS2 would make an incredible diving INT to get the ball back to the Broncos. This was a HUGE momentum shift and the moment that turned the game around for the Broncos.
Surtain II doesn’t come up with many turnovers, but when he does, they are big ones that ultimately change the outcome of the game. Hopefully, we see more of these big plays by PS2 moving forward and he can help lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl.
WINNER – WR Courtland Sutton
In a big game, Courtland Sutton stepped up in a big way.
He is Bo Nix’s favorite target, and he played a major role in the outcome of this game. He caught 7 passes for 113 yards and 1 beautiful touchdown. Sutton once again came up in big moments, made tough catches in the end zone, and proved to be the Broncos best playmaker on the roster.
The Nix and Sutton connection is a strong one, and today was one of their more memorable showings. Earlier in the game, Sutton had a long 42-yard reception where he worked a Packers defender and was WIDE OPEN for a long reception.
We need more of this type of performance from Nix and Sutton moving forward.
WINNER – CB Riley Moss
Redemption!
Broncos corner Riley Moss was once again called for an awful defensive pass interference call earlier in the game. We have seen this happen a lot throughout the year, and it has to be weighing hard on Moss, who has even started wearing boxing gloves in practice to stop him from being grabby in coverage. However, a late-game INT off QB Jordan Love could be just what the Broncos’ corner needs to get things going for him.
All things considered, Moss has been playing rather well this season. He has caught the ire of fans due to these DPIs but the vast majority of them have been iffy at best. It is frustrating that it is happening, and teams know this and continue to target him on key 3rd downs, hoping the refs will throw the flag.
I’m hoping we see more Riley Moss INTs and fewer DPIs moving forward.
WINNERS – WRs Troy Franklin, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Michael Bandy
I am lumping these three together because all three came up big for the Broncos and caught key touchdown passes. The Broncos were down rookie Pat Bryant, and Marvin Mims missed part of this game due to a stinger, so we needed the next man up at receiver, and these three stepped up.
Michael Bandy only had one catch, but he made the most of it and scored his first career touchdown. He was elevated from the practice squad this week and proved why the team continues to keep him around.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey returned to the team last month and has instantly made his presence known on this team. He is one of the better blocking receivers in the NFL and showed off his receiving skills as well. He caught 3 passes for 42 yards and 1 touchdown, which came on a beautiful Bo Nix pass. With Bryant sidelined, he was going to see more time and played well for the Broncos.
Troy Franklin has been hit or miss this season, but he seems to show up in the Broncos’ biggest games. He had multiple big catches against the Chiefs, including the pass that led to the game-winning field goal. Tonight, he caught 6 passes for 85 yards and 1 touchdown and arguably had one of the best, if not the best game of his young career vs. the Packers.
WINNER – POSTSEASON BERTH
WINNER – Sean Payton
The Denver Broncos are 12-2, won 11 straight games, are in the driver’s seat for the AFC West title, and the number one seed in the AFC, and things are great again in Broncos Country.
We went through dark times for basically a decade after Super Bowl 50. Hell, even Payton’s first year had the 70-point loss, Russell Wilson, and a soul-crushing loss on Christmas Eve. Two seasons later, the Broncos are the best team in the NFL, legit Super Bowl contenders, and they are only getting started.
You may not like him. You may not like some of his decisions or play calling, but Payton has dragged this franchise out of the gutter and back to being relevant once agin/
Thank you, Sean Payton.
Other notable Winners and Losers
- WINNER – RB RJ Harvey: The stat line may not look amazing, but Harvey was the Broncos’ bellcow back and held his own against a tough Green Bay Packers defense.
- WINNER – WR Marvin Mims Jr.: He may not have the flashy stat line like the rest of his teammates, but he came back from injury and looked good when involved in the offense. He’s an All-Pro returner and a weapon whenever the ball is in his hands.
- LOSER – Broncos 1st half defense: Whatever that gameplan was, it wasn’t working. Green Bay was moving the ball quickly up and down the field. Glad they turned things around, but it was a rough start
- LOSER – TE Evan Engram: Even in one of the Broncos’ best offensive performances of the season, they could not get Evan Engram involved in the game. He had just 1 catch for 12 yards and seems like an afterthought at times.
- LOSER – Ticky tack stuff: Timeouts, not punting the ball on 4th down late in the 4th quarter, and declining that holding call a play before the Josh Jacobs touchdown catch. Shit happens, but these deserve some attention.
