The Denver Broncos are officially playoff-bound - and they didn’t just sneak in. With a 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Denver became the first AFC team to clinch a postseason berth, riding an 11-game winning streak that now has them sitting at 12-2. That’s not just a hot streak - that’s a statement.
Quarterback Bo Nix summed it up perfectly: “It’s an exciting time to be a Bronco.” And he’s not wrong. With three games left in the regular season, Denver holds a one-game lead over the New England Patriots for the AFC’s top seed - and the coveted first-round bye that comes with it.
“This was our first goal,” Nix said postgame. “We wanted to get to the playoffs.
That’s the only way to get further - make the tournament. We were able to accomplish that tonight.
Now it’s about chasing the next one: handling our next opponent and setting ourselves up for the best postseason run possible.”
If Sunday’s performance was any indication, the Broncos are peaking at the right time. Nix was in complete command, completing 23 of 34 passes for 302 yards, four touchdowns, and - maybe most impressively - no interceptions. And he did it against a Packers team that came in leading the NFC North at 9-3-1.
This wasn’t just a good game for Nix - it was another chapter in what’s quickly becoming a historic start to his NFL career. He now has three games with 300+ passing yards and four touchdowns.
Only four quarterbacks in NFL history have more such games within their first 31 starts: Patrick Mahomes (6), Dan Marino (5), Kurt Warner (4), and Matthew Stafford (4). That’s elite company.
And when it comes to winning? Nix has already led Denver to 22 victories as a starter.
Only Russell Wilson (24) has more in his first two seasons. With three games still to play, Nix has a real shot at matching or surpassing that mark.
Head coach Sean Payton sees something special in his young quarterback. “The thing about him is, he loves playing,” Payton said.
“That’s contagious. That’s a really good trait for a player at his position, and his teammates feel that.
There’s just a competitive nature about him that’s refreshing.”
That competitive edge was on full display after Denver found itself in a 23-14 hole early in the third quarter. Green Bay had just ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run courtesy of former Alabama standout Josh Jacobs, and the Broncos offense followed with a deflating three-and-out.
But then came the turning point - and it came from another Alabama alum, this time on the defensive side. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II picked off a deep shot from Packers quarterback Jordan Love, flipping the momentum and igniting the home crowd. From there, Denver’s offense caught fire.
“It was huge,” Nix said of Surtain’s interception. “Any sudden turnover like that - it just brings adrenaline, emotion.
They come out and score, we go three-and-out, it wasn’t a great start to the third quarter. But man, he went after that football, got it, and that’s when I felt like the momentum started falling back on our side.
It got the crowd back into it, and when our crowd’s going, it’s a really hostile environment.”
Fueled by the energy shift, Nix led three straight touchdown drives. He went 11-of-17 for 176 yards and two touchdowns during that stretch, including a pair of clutch fourth-down conversions - a 2-yard run on 4th-and-1 and a 26-yard strike on 4th-and-2.
He connected with Courtland Sutton for a 14-yard touchdown to trim Green Bay’s lead to 23-21 with just over nine minutes left in the third. Then, with time winding down in the quarter, Nix dropped a 23-yard dime to Troy Franklin to give Denver a 27-23 lead - the fifth and final lead change of the game.
Now, the Broncos turn their focus to another division leader: the Jacksonville Jaguars, who come to Empower Field at Mile High next Sunday. Jacksonville leads the AFC South at 10-4, just one game ahead of the Texans. Denver, meanwhile, holds a two-game edge over the Chargers in the AFC West.
With the playoffs locked in and the top seed in sight, the Broncos aren’t just playing for January - they’re playing for February. And with Bo Nix at the helm, they’ve got every reason to believe they belong in that conversation.