Bo Nix's 4 TD passes lead Broncos to 34-26 win over Packers, who lose Micah Parsons to injury

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos were slogging their way through a rare clunker Sunday against the Green Bay Packers when cornerback Pat Surtain II delivered the game-saving takeaway.

The reigning NFL defensive player of the year laid out for Jordan Love's deep throw to Christian Watson and secured his first interception of an injury-marred season, one that sparked the Broncos' playoff-clinching, come-from-behind 34-26 win Sunday.

“We may have to use him on offense some,” Bo Nix cracked.

Denver's second-year QB actually had plenty of firepower. Nix tied a career high with four touchdown passes — connecting with Michael Bandy, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin and Lil'Jordan Humphrey — to lead the Broncos (12-2) to their 11th consecutive victory.

The Broncos 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.

Green Bay lost star lost star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who went down with a non-contact knee injury while chasing down Nix. Parsons, who had energized the green and gold ever since his stunning trade from Dallas a week before the season opener, is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, a person with knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the severity of the injury hadn’t been confirmed by tests.

“I’m sickened,” Parsons, who forced a fumble on Denver's opening drive, told the AP in a text message.

Parsons’ injury is a devastating blow to the Packers (9-4-1), who fell a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears ahead of their Soldier Field showdown next weekend.

Parsons was steps away from a sack when he suddenly pulled up and fell to the ground, grabbing at his left knee.

The Packers also lost Watson to a chest injury after Surtain fell on him following his third-quarter interception. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Watson went to a hospital for tests.

“I told the guys, ‘Nobody is going to feel sorry for us,’” LaFleur said. “Everybody’s going to have to elevate their play.”

The Packers opened the second half with a TD drive to take a 23-14 lead. After Denver went three-and-out, the Packers went for the kill shot with a deep throw to Watson on first down and Surtain came away with the ball, re-energizing both his sideline and the crowd.

“I think a play like that, a sudden turnover, just gets some adrenaline, gets some emotion back in the game,” said Nix, who capitalized on the takeaway by leading a touchdown drive that trimmed Denver's deficit to 23-21.

“He's had some ups and downs this season, he's battled through it, and that was a Pat Surtain play right there. None many can make it,” Nix said. “Big-time players make big plays in big moments.”

Riley Moss also recorded his first interceptions of the season. The Broncos sacked Love three times and held the Packers to just one touchdown in four trips into the red zone while going 4 for 4 themselves.

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.

“We got a lot of fight,” Surtain said. “The Packers, they got a great team on both sides of the ball. We knew it wasn't going to be easy. We kept reiterating that throughout the whole ball game: just finish, finish, finish and we'll get the job done. ... In order for us to be great, we've got to find a way to win those games.”

Surtain was one of several Broncos who comforted Parsons as the Packers' medical personnel attended to him on the field.

“It's very tough,” Surtain said. “Micah, he's a great player in this league and when you see a player of his caliber go down, we feel for him.”

The game featured a half-dozen lead changes.

“Well, we talked about it at halftime and we said that's the habitat we've been living in,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton, whose team has pulled out nine one-score victories during its 11-game winning streak, the franchise's longest since 2012.

“When you get comfortable operating in those games, you don't think anything of it,” Payton added.

Former Broncos kicker Brandon McManus kicked field goals of 56, 23 and 35 yards to help the Packers take a 16-14 halftime lead and added a 37-yarder in the fourth quarter that pulled Green Bay within 27-26 before the Broncos iced it on R.J. Harvey's 4-yard TD run.

Packers: In addition to Parsons and Watson, TE Josh Whyle (concussion) and RT Zach Tom (knee) got hurt.

Broncos: Harvey (ribs) was injured late in the game. Also, ILB Justin Strnad (right ankle) and S Brandon Jones (pectoral) got hurt and didn't return.

Packers. At Chicago on Saturday.

Broncos: Host Jacksonville next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson is hurt after Denver Broncos' Pat Surtain II intercepts a pass during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Riley Moss celebrates an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Green Bay Packers' Keisean Nixon tries to stop Denver Broncos' Troy Franklin during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos' RJ Harvey celebrates his touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons reacts after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos' Bo Nix scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Treasury chief Rachel Reeves sought Tuesday to present a rosy picture of the state of the U.K. economy even as oil and gas prices soared in the wake of the fast-evolving Iran war that has cast a pall over the global economic outlook.

Unveiling the latest U.K. economic forecasts compiled by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, Reeves insisted the plan she has been driving forward since the Labour Party returned to power in the 2024 election is bearing fruit.

Though economic growth this year is expected to be slightly lower than predicted at the time of last November's budget at 1.1%, it's set to be higher than anticipated in both 2027 and 2028 at 1.6%. Inflation and borrowing are expected to fall more quickly than previously thought, she added.

“The forecasts today confirm that the choices this government has made are the right ones,” she said.

Reeves had hoped her statement to the House of Commons would be a relatively low-key affair, but economists are warning that the Iran war could upend the forecasts, depressing growth, stoking inflation and increasing debt.

Perhaps most significantly, the price of Brent international oil standard has spiked by more than 15% this week to over $80 a barrel, while global gas prices, which the U.K. is particularly reliant on, have nearly doubled. If sustained, both would certainly lead to higher energy bills for businesses and households, fuelling inflation and keeping a lid on growth.

Reeves started off her speech by acknowledging that the world has become “yet more uncertain” in the past few days following the decision of the United States and Israel to launch strikes against Iran, which saw the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as other members of Iran's leadership.

“It is incumbent on me and on this government to chart a course through that uncertainty, to secure our economy against shocks, and protect families from the turbulence that we see beyond our borders,” she said.

Britain’s Labour government, which has lost significant support since it won the general election in 2024, has been hoping that 2026 would be the year that it was clear the British economy was on a sounder footing than it has been for years.

Some recent economic indicators have pointed to a pickup in growth in the early part of 2026. Inflation is also set to fall sharply in the coming months, prompting the Bank of England to cut interest rates further. Last month, the bank kept its main rate unchanged at 3.75%.

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street to deliver the Spring Statement in London, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A fox runs past the 10 Downing Street door before Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves leaves to deliver the Spring Statement in London, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street to deliver the Spring Statement in London, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street to deliver the Spring Statement in London, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)