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The Denver Broncos have won 10 straight and enter Week 15 at 11-2, but they’re still home underdogs against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, December 14. Multiple sportsbooks have listed Green Bay as a 2.5-point favorite with a 42.5 total.
It’s the kind of “wait, what?” line that’s been making the rounds all week — and it’s not hard to see why Broncos fans have noticed.
Packers Listed as Favorites Over 11-2 Broncos in Week 15 Odds
According to CBS Sports’ look at the matchup odds (from DraftKings), the Packers opened as 2.5-point favorites over Denver, with the over/under set at 42.5.
That’s notable because this isn’t a “good story, bad team” Broncos situation. Denver is 11-2, riding a 10-game winning streak, and the team site notes the Broncos can clinch a postseason berth with a win Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.
So why the line? The simple answer is that oddsmakers are pricing in Green Bay’s profile (9-3-1, strong defense, and a hot stretch) and treating this like a tight, low-scoring coin-flip game rather than a “Denver rolls” spot.
Sean Payton and Bo Nix Downplay the Underdog Talk
Broncos coach Sean Payton didn’t exactly sound offended by it — even if the topic came up this week.
“You don’t really pay attention to that… we know we’re playing a good football team,” Payton said earlier in the week.
Payton also pointed back to what Denver can control: playing at altitude and leaning into the home environment.
Quarterback Bo Nix, meanwhile, framed Sunday as the start of a postseason-style finish rather than a betting argument.
“[Sunday] will be what seems to be a playoff game… it’s pretty much going to be like playoff football,” Nix said.
That tone tracks with the rest of Denver’s schedule. The Broncos’ final month is loaded with opponents that entered Week 15 with at least nine wins, including Green Bay. Then the Broncos face a surging Jacksonville team, followed by the Chiefs and a matchup with the Chargers to end the season.
What the Line Could Say About This Matchup
If you’re looking for the “football reason” behind the odds, it’s basically this: both defenses are legit, and books (and models) appear to expect points to be harder to come by.
Both teams are top-10 defenses and projected to be “heavyweight clash” where neither side gives up much, which naturally makes a spread like -2.5 feel plausible even with Denver’s record.
It also means one or two swing moments — a short-field turnover, a red-zone stop, a single busted coverage — could decide the game.
In other words, the line is less “Broncos aren’t real” and more “this matchup is tight, and Green Bay’s been priced like an elite road team.”
Broncos vs. Packers Kickoff Info
The Broncos host the Packers at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
If Denver wants to turn the “home underdogs” chatter into a punchline, Sunday’s the cleanest way to do it: win the game, keep the streak alive, and make the odds look silly in hindsight.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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