Packers in Denver: time to even the score
GREEN BAY – Denver has never been kind to the Packers, save for one memorable occasion. It may soon become two.
Since Green Bay’s first trip to the original Mile High Stadium back in 1975, the Packers own a 1-7 record in the Rocky Mountain region.
That lone victory still stands out: Brett Favre lofted an 82-yard strike to Greg Jennings on the opening play of overtime to win a Monday night tilt in late October 2007.
The rest has been a string of tough nights.
There have been a few close calls, too. Take the 1984 Monday night game: heavy snow blanketed the field, Green Bay fumbled on their first two snaps, Denver jumped on both, and it was 14-0 Broncos just 50 seconds into the game.
Green Bay battled back to threaten, but settled for a 17-14 loss despite Lynn Dickey throwing for 371 yards and James Lofton hauling in 11 passes for 206 yards — the first 200-yard receiving game for a Packers player in 16 years — including a 54-yard TD in the fourth that kept hope alive.
Two missed field goals (29 and 37 yards) in the first half hurt, and a Dickey strip-sack at the Denver 19 with three minutes to go sealed the fate.
Another near-miss came two seasons ago in Jordan Love’s (https://www.packers.com/team/players-roster/jordan-love/) first year as starter. The Packers trailed 16-3 late in the third, surged to lead 17-16 in the fourth, then fell behind again on a late field goal. A promising drive across midfield ended on a controversial holding penalty on Elgton Jenkins (https://www.packers.com/team/players-roster/elgton-jenkins/). Facing long-yardage, Love threw a deep ball that was intercepted with 1:40 left, and the game ended 19-17.
In total, the five other losses in Denver have been rough, with an average margin around 14 points. Green Bay’s 1-7 mark in Denver only trails the franchise’s 0-7 record in Buffalo, a drought dating back to 1979.
Right now, making new history in Denver won’t be easy. The Broncos have won 10 straight and sit atop the AFC with the No. 1 playoff seed. Home undefeated this season, they’re also famous for fourth-quarter comebacks, including rallies from three-score deficits against the Eagles and Giants.
“You can tell it’s a resilient football team,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. “They’re never out of the fight.”
For Green Bay, two pillars give reason for optimism: LaFleur and Love.
LaFleur’s December record stands out. He’s 21-4 in December during his tenure, tying for the best winning percentage among NFL coaches with at least 25 December games, alongside Vince Lombardi’s 21-4-2 mark. Only John Madden (21-7) and Bill Walsh (25-9) sit ahead in that company.
Under LaFleur, the Packers have consistently been among the league’s December elites. Riding a four-game win streak and entering Week 15, there’s no obvious reason to doubt another late-season surge.
As for Love, this is his time to shine. Since Week 11 of his rookie season onward, he’s gone 15-5 as a starter, with 37 touchdown passes to just three interceptions and a passer rating of 111.0 after Week 11. Those two statistics — TD-to-INT ratio and passer rating — rank among the best in NFL history since 1950 for a quarterback with at least 10 starts from Week 11 on, per NFL Research.
Week 15 carries significant stakes for both teams.
The Packers sit at 9-3-1, clinging to first place in the NFC North, a half-game ahead of the 9-4 Bears, with a rematch in Chicago brewing next week.
The Broncos, at 11-2, are neck-and-neck with the Patriots (11-2) in the race for the AFC’s top seed. A loss would tighten the chase for both organizations; a win could provide a meaningful boost as the stretch run unfolds.
“As you beat a team that’s clearly very good, it changes the energy you carry,” Packers running back Josh Jacobs says. “Our offense is clicking at the right moments down the stretch, and this sets up for a great test.”
