Ultimate Fans, what a game this is going to be! In a matchup that a few pundits have called a potential “Super Bowl preview,” the Broncos have a big challenge ahead of them, but also a perfect opportunity.
Not just to get to 11 wins and keep the No. 1 seed hopes alive, but also to prove to the rest of the NFL that this Broncos squad is for real.
Helping us think through this high-stakes game is rupnin38, a rookie to the UFG but a veteran to this matchup. In fact, his love for the Broncos was solidified with this historic Super Bowl XXXII matchup and has been tested year after year as he is married to a Packers fan (may the household remain intact following Sunday’s game!)
Heading into this home game, Denver is actually an underdog. But neither our UFGer nor our fearless QB care about those odds. It’s time to play football at Mile High, and our money is on Denver!
Week 15: Packers at Broncos
MHR – Ten wins in a row. How significant do you think that is? How great did it feel to beat the Raiders twice this season once again?
Rupnin38: I think win streaks are overrated in the regular season, don’t get me wrong. What fan wouldn’t love a 20-game win streak?! It’s all about winning the postseason, that’s where I want to see the win streak (isn’t that right ‘07 Pats?) Any time we sweep anyone in the West is a great feeling; just bummed that sweep didn’t include a sweep of firings for the listless Raiders.
MHR – The Packers will be one of the toughest/best teams the Broncos play this season. In general, how do you think this game will play out – a defensive battle? An offensive shootout? A blow out one way or the other?
Rupnin38: Living in the heart of the Frozen Tundra and living in a divided household I see every Packers and Broncos game. The NFL is always unpredictable but I feel this is going to be a rock fight.
MHR – Jordan Love is having a good season – 22 TDs versus 4 INTs. Bo Nix is a little worse but comparable at 20 TDs versus 9 INTs. Both teams have some offensive weapons in their receiving corps but nothing crazy. And both have capable running backs that have run pretty well. But both also have very good defenses. So, will this game come down to which team has the better offense or the better defense?
Rupnin38: They are so evenly matched I think it comes down to glass half full or half empty scenario. The defenses on both sides are going to shine and the difference in this one will come down to which #10 finds their groove against a stingy D (or which D makes the biggest mistake).
MHR – Speaking of running backs, RJ Harvey seems to be improving. Do you think this could be a breakout game for him? Or is it time to see more Jaleel McLaughlin or Tyler Badie?
Rupnin38: Harvey having a breakout game is the key to this one offensively. If Harvey finds success early, it should open up the play action and deep shots for Bo, which should help quite a bit against da Pack.
MHR – Given that the Packers’ pass rush is going to be relentless, what kinds of playes, designed runs and off-script plays would you like to see on Sunday?
Rupnin38: Like I said above, the run game especially between the tackles has to be on point. I think mixing in some designed runs for Nix will keep them guessing. At the end of the day, in Payton I trust, and I have a feeling he’s especially got it out for NFC teams, so he’s going to have plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
MHR – Now speaking of that pass rush, Micah Parsons has 12.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 12 TFLs and 26 QB hits, plus 78 pressures. How does the Broncos’ O-line stop him?
Rupnin38: Don’t lose track of him. If they can communicate where he is and who’s responsible for what, the O-line will find success. Bo can help out a lot by making the right checks at the line.
MHR – Marvin Mims had a punt return for a TD last week and got AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Sean Payton promised more of him in the offense. Do you believe him? Would you like that to be true?
Rupnin38: Can anyone ever believe Payton? I do, though, believe we’re going to see more of Mims. December just feels like his month. Let’s see what Payton has been hiding from us all season!
MHR – The Broncos defense has been so good all season but it has shown a little more bend than I like to see when it comes to giving up some big plays, particularly in the flats or over the middle. How much of a problem could that be this weekend?
Rupnin38: Love has been fire with his deep ball of late, especially with Watson back in the mix. If the D can’t fix its communication errors and pass off of responsibility it’s going to be a long game. I think the D is up to the task and will look much better this week.
MHR – Which players on offense and defense need to be the MVPs of the game to make sure this ends in the W column?
Rupnin38: If Bo is the Offensive MVP then everyone else should be having an outstanding game.
Defensive MVP…I can only pick one? Zach Allen. If anyone on the line is the MVP that should mean Jacobs didn’t carve us up and Love definitely took some hits and was off rhythm.
MHR – The playoffs are well within Denver’s grasp but this will be a big test about how they can match up to better teams. What would tell you this Sunday that this Broncos team is ready for a deep playoff run?
Rupnin38: I think we are ready for a deep playoff run, but…a complete game from all three phases, not just 2nd and 4th quarter magic. Add on a two-score margin of victory even if it’s just 9 points would help our case.
MHR – Where did you expect this Broncos team to be this year by this point? Have your expectations been met, exceeded or not quite as good as you hoped?
Rupnin38: Honestly I thought we would be 2nd in the West behind those darned Chiefs with 3 or 4 losses. I thought the D would take a step back and our offense would be a top 10 unit. Overall you won’t hear me complaining. This season is what we’ve been waiting for…18-2 until we’re not!
Predictions
Stats for BO NIX? 230 yards, 27/35, 2 TD, 35 yards on the ground. Clean game, no picks.
Stats for each Broncos RB? Harvey: 80 on the ground, 1 TD, 20 through the air, 1 TD. Prentice 18 (2 big first downs), the rest combine for 35.
Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Sutton: 60, 1 TD; Engram 70; Troy 25 (on 2 receptions), Mims 55
Longest FG for Lutz? Only 1 for 42 yds
Number of sacks to Jordan Love? 6!
Broncos player with the most tackles? Feels like a Greenlaw game.
Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Nik!
How many times will Nix escape getting sacked and make a big play out of it? 3: 2 for HUGE runs, and 1 for 20+ to Engram.
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Packers D? 0/0/0
How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos’ D? 0/0/0
How many holding penalties for the Broncos? 2
How many false DPI penalties called on Moss? 0, Moss plays clean but there will be a couple DPIs
Who gets more sacks, Bonitto or Micah Parsons? Parsons gets 3, Nik gets robbed of a half sack and finishes with 2.5
Final Score? DEN: 24, GB: 20
The Favorites
Favorite John Elway win outside of the Super Bowls? ‘96 Broncos-Vikings. McCaffrey catches a million times tipped ball. I loved watching him as a kid and it might be the first Broncos or any NFL game I remember. When I say game I mean play I wasn’t watching many whole games at 5 years old
Favorite Peyton Manning win? AFC Championship Game against the Pats, taking us to SB 50! watched it at a bar in Vegas, I was the only Bronco fan in sight surrounded by Pats fans needless to say…. I was chirping a bit.
Favorite Broncos win with any other QB? Russ beating GB in Denver 2023. My first Broncos home game I’ve been to. I traveled from Wisconsin with three other Packers fans. Nothing better than rubbing in a W to those closest to you.
Favorite Broncos win ever? SB 50. SB 32 made me a Broncos fan for life but SB 50 was the first I was able to enjoy as an adult.
Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? KC… they are our new rivals who even are the Raiders?
Coach you laugh at the most in the NFL? Any Browns HC coach… hardest job in the NFL
Coach you most want to throat punch? Hackett he’s not technically coaching anywhere (he’s analyzing for the Packers. DONT let Hackett experience another W in our building boys!!!
Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC? The Pats.
NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? da Packers. I’ve gotta support my friends and family sometimes!
NFC team you want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? da Packers (see fav win by any other QB question)
Favorite game so far this season? Our win over KC!
Most important game left on the schedule? Week 18 against the Chargers. We’ve gotta win the West!
Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? My fellow Sconnie Quinn Meinerz
Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway? That’s a really close call between McCaffrey and Von Miller but I have to tow the “edge” to Von.
Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Lucky #13 Pat Bryant
Food/Snack you have to eat on game day? Pulled pork sliders
Favorite game analyst/commentator? Al Michaels, his history and his current streak of “I’m too old for this” style of commenting is great
Which Broncos are on your Mt. Rushmore? Elway, Manning, Miller, TD
How did you become a Broncos fan?
Super Bowl 32. I was 7, and my aunt worked at some hospital in Denver and had met a few of the players. She came home for the Super Bowl and decked me out head to toe in Broncos gear. All I remember was a bunch of pissed off Packers fans taking it out on my Aunt and me. Oh and the BADEST man on the field laying his life on the line getting rocked and spinning like a helicopter. That was my baptism into the blue and orange.
