The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for what might be their toughest test of the season. On deck: the red-hot Denver Broncos, who come into the matchup boasting an 11-2 record and riding a 10-game winning streak.
That’s not just a team on a roll - that’s a team that’s found its identity and is leaning into it hard. Meanwhile, the Packers aren’t exactly limping into this one.
At 9-3-1 and winners of four straight, Green Bay is building momentum at the right time. But this weekend?
This is a measuring-stick game.
What makes this Broncos team especially dangerous is how complete they’ve become - particularly on defense. Denver’s secondary has been flying around the field, and that unit is being coached by none other than Jim Leonhard, a name that rings out in Wisconsin football circles.
The former Badgers star and current Broncos assistant head coach has helped shape a defensive backfield that’s playing with confidence and discipline. Packers fans will remember that Green Bay once offered Leonhard their defensive coordinator job - a position he ultimately declined to return to Wisconsin.
The Packers would go on to hire Joe Barry in that cycle, but it’s clear Leonhard’s coaching path is still intersecting with Green Bay in meaningful ways.
And Leonhard isn’t the only familiar face wearing orange and blue this week.
The Broncos just brought back a name that Packers fans know well: Marcedes Lewis. The veteran tight end, who spent five seasons in Green Bay from 2018 to 2022, rejoined Denver’s practice squad after being released earlier in the week. Lewis had signed with the Broncos earlier this season, a move that allowed him to suit up for his 20th NFL campaign - a milestone no other tight end in league history has reached.
At 41 years old, Lewis’ role has evolved, but his impact - especially in the locker room and on the line of scrimmage - remains significant. During his time in Green Bay, he wasn’t just a tight end; he was practically an extension of the offensive line.
His blocking helped protect Aaron Rodgers and opened up running lanes for the Packers’ ground game. It was the kind of unglamorous, high-impact work that doesn’t always show up in the box score but wins respect across the league.
After leaving Green Bay, Lewis spent two seasons with the Chicago Bears before landing in Denver. He’s appeared in four games for the Broncos this year, enough to officially notch that record-setting 20th season. While he’s now back on the practice squad, the fact that he’s still contributing at this stage of his career is a testament to his longevity, professionalism, and football IQ.
So as the Packers prepare for a clash with one of the league’s elite teams, they’ll be staring down a defense led in part by a Wisconsin legend - and potentially sharing the field with a beloved former teammate who’s still grinding in year 20. There’s a lot of familiarity in this matchup. But make no mistake: sentimentality will take a backseat once the whistle blows.
This game is about playoff positioning, pride, and proving who belongs in the league’s upper echelon. And for Green Bay, it’s a chance to show that their recent surge is more than just a hot streak - it’s who they are.