The Denver Broncos took a huge step toward silencing the doubters on Sunday with a convincing 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers. The last time the Broncos won the Super Bowl, that team also had a statement win over the Packers, while that was earlier in the season (week 8) it was a statement win over a team that was considered a serious Super Bowl contender. The Packers came into that game 6-0 and looking like one of the strongest teams in the NFC. They were humbled in that game and went 4-6 the rest of the way to finish 10-6. The Broncos were also 6-0 entering the game and would get to 7-0, before going 5-4 down the stretch that season to finish 12-4.

The Broncos have now reached 12 or more regular season wins for the 12th time in franchise history. Five times in team history the Broncos have won 13 regular season games: 1984, 1996, 2005, 2012 and 2013. The franchise record for victories was 14 in 1998. The 2025 team could set a franchise record for regular season victories with 15. There are two difficult games left on the schedule and Chiefs are NOT one of them. Dang it feels good to type that, but KC will not have Kermit the QB and they will also have nothing to play for on Christmas other than trying to spoil something for the Broncos. The Jaguars and Chargers are both 10-4 and will both be fighting for playoff seeding. So if the Broncos do run the table and finish with 15 wins they will have proven all doubters wrong.

This is a complete team. Yes, there are some holes, all teams have them, but the Broncos are playing with confidence, poise and attitude, which is impressive for a team that is fairly young. If the Broncos beat the Jags and Chargers (both) at home, they will be the most tested playoff team in the field, particularly if the Colts and Cowboys manage to sneak into the playoffs. The Jags, Texans, Eagles, Packers and Chargers will all make the playoffs. If the Colts and Cowboys make the playoffs that would mean the Broncos have seven wins over playoff teams.

The Bronco offense played one of its best games of the year on Sunday with five TDs. The 34 points was the second most that the Broncos have scored this season (44 vs DAL). The offense is finding its way at the right time and hopefully the final three regular season games can have the offense playing its best of the year. Bo Nix had the best game of his young career and if he plays anywhere close to that in the final three, the Broncos could easily be looking at 15-2 at the end of the regular season.

The run game might hold the offense back, particularly if RJ Harvey is slowed by injury. The OL has been dominant in the last two games and Ben Powers might be back which should make the run game even more effective. The run game is critical in the cold in the playoffs.

The defense is doing what it needs when it needs to. The first half on Sunday was ugly, but a switch was flipped after Surtain’s pick and the defense went into beast mode. The defense now has 58 sacks, which is 14 short of the record of 72 by the 84 Bears. The Jags are better at protecting their QB than the Packers (they are currently 7th in pressure rate allowed). The Broncos are second. The Chiefs and the Chargers are not good at protecting their QB, so the Broncos could get a bunch of sacks in the final two games particularly if the offense gets a lead and lets the pass rush hunt.

The Bronco OL has only allowed 17 sacks, which is the lowest number in the NFL. The Faiders have allowed 54. The fewest sacks ever allowed by a Bronco team was 12 in 2008. This team should finish in the top ten all time in franchise history in sacks allowed. Fewer than 24 would put the 2025 in the top 10. The three seasons with a healthy PFM the Broncos allowed 21, 20 and 17 sacks.

The Jags offense has been been on fire recently. They put up 35 on the Chargers, 27 on the Cardinals, 25 on the Titans, 36 on the Colts and 48 on the hapless Jets. None of those teams has the defense that the Broncos have, but the Jags’ offense also seems to be hitting it stride lately. This is not the same team that got blown out by the Rams and had to got to OT to beat the Raiders. The Broncos should not sleep on the Jags like the 1996 Broncos did.