The Denver Broncos are riding a serious wave right now. Winners of 10 straight and a perfect 6-0 at home, they’ve turned their season around in a way few saw coming. But as Week 15 approaches, the oddsmakers aren’t exactly buying in.
Despite their red-hot form, the Broncos have opened as 1.5-point underdogs at home against the Green Bay Packers. That line quickly shifted to 2.5 points, meaning Vegas sees this as more than just a toss-up - they’ve got Green Bay as the better team, even in Denver’s backyard.
Now, let’s be clear: the Packers are no slouch. At 9-3-1, they’re very much in the thick of the NFC playoff picture and are coming off back-to-back wins that have them sitting atop the NFC North.
A gritty road win over the Lions on Thanksgiving, followed by a tough home victory against the Bears, has them trending in the right direction. Jordan Love is playing some of his best football of the season, and he currently ranks fourth in the league with a 105.4 passer rating.
Then there’s Micah Parsons - the anchor of Green Bay’s defense and one of the most disruptive forces in the NFL. He’s tied with Denver’s own Nik Bonitto for third in the league in sacks (12.5), and he’s a constant problem for opposing quarterbacks. That’s the kind of player who can swing a game on a single play.
But here’s the thing: the Broncos have been finding ways to win - week after week. They’ve beaten quality opponents on the road, including Philadelphia and Houston, and they haven’t lost since September 21. That’s not a fluke; that’s a team that knows how to close games.
Sure, not every win has been pretty. Some have come down to the wire.
Some were against teams they probably should’ve handled more easily. But style points don’t show up in the standings.
What matters is that this team, under Sean Payton, has figured out how to win - and that’s something you can’t ignore in December.
Running back Josh Jacobs continues to be a key piece of the Broncos’ offense. He enters the matchup tied for third in the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns, and his physical style gives Denver a reliable option when they need to move the chains or punch it in near the goal line.
This game against the Packers might just be the Broncos’ biggest test yet. Green Bay is balanced, experienced, and battle-tested. But if Denver wants to be taken seriously as a true contender, this is the kind of game they need to win - and the kind of opponent they need to beat.
And here’s the kicker: the Broncos get to carry both a 10-game winning streak and the classic “nobody believes in us” chip on their shoulder into this one. That’s a dangerous combination.
Respect isn’t given in this league - it’s earned. The Broncos have been doing that for the last 10 weeks. A win over Green Bay would go a long way toward silencing the doubters once and for all.