Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is not sugar-coating what awaits his unit in Week 15. Days before the 11-2 Broncos host the 9-3-1 Green Bay Packers in a heavyweight AFC-NFC showdown, Joseph labeled Jordan Love and his supporting cast as “probably the best overall skill that we’ve played all year.”
The comment ramps up the stakes for a matchup that already feels like a playoff preview. Denver enters Sunday as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, while Green Bay sits as the NFC’s No. 2 seed, making it one of the rare late-season clashes between top-two conference seeds.
Vance Joseph Praises ‘Scary’ Jordan Love, Packers Weapons
Asked about Love’s growth, Joseph went position by position and came away convinced the Packers’ skill group is as complete as anything Denver has seen in 2025. He highlighted Green Bay’s variety at receiver — smaller, quick options, big vertical threats and strong route-runners — along with tight end Luke Musgrave’s ability to stretch the field and the impact of their backs in both the run and pass game.
“It’s a really good group,” Joseph said, noting that five different receivers can hurt a defense and that the production is spread out rather than funneled to a single star. That balance, he explained, makes it hard to roll coverage or key on any one target because Love simply finds “the open guy” within the concept.
Joseph was just as effusive about Love himself, calling him accurate against both pressure and non-pressure looks and “in total control” of the offense. He pointed to the quarterback’s operation on third downs, checks into the right protections and command of motions and shifts as signs of a passer who has fully grown into the role.
Perhaps the most ominous line for Broncos fans: Joseph said Love’s timing on deep shots has “killed defenses,” underscoring the explosive-play threat Denver must survive on Sunday.
What It Means for the Broncos Defense vs. Jordan Love
Joseph’s respect for Green Bay’s offense is more than coach-speak. The Packers roll into Denver on a heater, with recent wins over the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears powering them into serious NFC contention.
Denver’s defense, meanwhile, has been a strength during the team’s run to 11-2 and an NFL-best 11-game home winning streak. Joseph knows that streak will be under serious pressure if the Broncos cannot disrupt Love’s rhythm or muddy his reads.
The DC emphasized that it will be tough to design a game plan around taking away a single weapon, because the Packers’ passing game is built on reads and timing rather than force-feeding a clear-cut WR1. That places more stress on Denver’s coverage communication and pass rush discipline than on shadowing one matchup.
Joseph also acknowledged the challenge of handling the run game if Josh Jacobs is available. The veteran back has been battling a knee issue and has missed practice time this week, leaving his status in doubt and potentially opening the door for Emanuel Wilson to see more carries. Either way, Joseph framed the task as a “cat and mouse game” between loaded boxes vs. the run and softer coverages that protect against deep shots.
Stats, Schedule & Context for Broncos–Packers
The game itself only amps up the urgency behind Joseph’s comments. Kickoff is set for Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 4:25 p.m. ET at Empower Field at Mile High, with Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson on the CBS call.
Denver can officially clinch a postseason berth with a win and strengthen its grip on the AFC’s top seed. Green Bay, on the other hand, is trying to keep pace in a crowded NFC race while proving its high-powered offense can travel into one of the league’s toughest road environments.
Joseph’s message to his defense — and, by extension, Broncos fans — is clear: if this unit wants to validate its own top-tier reputation, it has to deal with the “best overall skill” group it has seen all season and a “scary” version of Jordan Love who has already made plenty of other defenses pay.
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