GB falls 34-26 to Broncos, Parsons suffers knee injury
Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons reacts after an injury during the second half against the Denver Broncos on Sunday in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix tied his career high with four touchdown throws and Denver’s defense stifled Jordan Love in the second half of the Broncos’ 34-26 win Sunday over the Green Bay Packers, who lost star Micah Parsons to a knee injury.
With their NFL-best 11th consecutive victory, the Broncos (12-2) clinched a playoff berth and moved a game ahead of New England for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They stayed two games ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West.
The Packers (9-4-1), who led 23-14 in the third quarter before falling apart offensively, slipped a half-game behind Chicago ahead of their Soldier Field showdown with the Bears on Saturday. This was Green Bay’s first loss by more than three points.
Denver cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss recorded their first interceptions of the season, the Broncos sacked Jordan Love three times and Denver held the Packers to just one touchdown in four trips into the red zone.
After scoring on their first five drives, the Packers managed one field goal in their final half-dozen possessions. The others ended in a pair of picks, two turnovers on downs and a punt.
Packers pass rushing standout Micah Parsons was helped off the field after injuring his left knee on a non-contact play late in the third quarter.
Sources said the Packers believe Parsons suffered a torn ACL. An MRI will be done to confirm that diagnosis.
It was the second significant injury for the Packers, who lost receiver Christian Watson to a chest injury after Surtain fell on him following a third-quarter interception.
Parsons was having a big game. He forced an early fumble and was credited with a pass breakup.
The 26-year-old Watson was hurt in the third quarter when Surtain made a diving interception and landed on top of him. Watson missed the start of the season as he recovered from tearing his ACL in Green Bay’s 2024 regular-season finale. He returned on Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh.
Former Broncos kicker Brandon McManus kicked field goals of 56, 23 and 35 yards to help the Packers take a 16-14 halftime lead, which they quickly stretched to 23-14 on Josh Jacobs’ 40-yard touchdown run following a debatable pass interference flag on Moss.
Denver’s defense finally got a stop when Surtain intercepted Love’s deep throw to Christian Watson, who suffered a chest injury on the play.
The Broncos turned that takeaway into points when Nix drove Denver 71 yards on seven plays, hitting Courtland Sutton from 14 yards out to pull the Broncos within 23-21.
Nix’s 23-yard pass to Troy Franklin put the Broncos ahead for good at 27-23 and R.J. Harvey, who suffered a rib injury, capped the scoring with a 4-yard TD run.
In the first half, Love threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jacobs one play after Broncos coach Sean Payton declined a holding penalty that would have pushed the Packers back to the Denver 24.
The Broncos responded with their second straight touchdown drive, the payoff coming on a perfectly placed 5-yard throw from Nix to Lil’Jordan Humphrey that gave Denver a 14-13 lead.
Earlier, Franklin was mistakenly ruled down at the Green Bay 7 even though his knees never hit the grass as he broke tackles and rambled into the end zone. Nix made sure it didn’t matter by finding fullback Michael Bandy for a 20-yard touchdown reception that erased Green Bay’s 6-0 lead.
Parsons, who stripped Harvey at midfield on Denver’s opening drive, sustained a non-contract injury with 44 seconds left in the third quarter. He had a clear shot at Nix but pulled up and grabbed his left knee before tumbling to the ground.
As he was being tended to by trainers, several Broncos players went up to him with comforting words before he headed to the locker room to be evaluated.
Injuries
Packers: In addition to Parsons’ knee injury, TE Josh Whyle sustained a concussion in the first quarter and RT Zach Tom sustained a knee injury in the second quarter.
Broncos: In addition to Harvey’s rib injury, ILB Justin Strnad injured his right ankle in the first quarter and didn’t return. Also, S Brandon Jones was ruled out with a pectoral injury just after halftime.



