The Broncos felt very good about not allowing a sack Sunday but very bad about sack master Micah Parsons going down.

In the final minute of the third quarter in Denver’s 34-26 win over Green Bay at Empower Field at Mile High, the Packers star defensive end suffered a noncontact injury that is believed to be a torn left ACL. He was helped to the locker room and is likely done for the season.

“It’s very tough, man,’’ said Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, about Parsons, also one of the league’s top defenders. “Micah, we have a good relationship and he’s a great player in this league. When you have a player like that, that goes down, that type of caliber, obviously you feel for him. But my prayers are with him and his family through this process. It’s tough but I know he’s going to bounce back.”

Parsons, in his first season with Green Bay after four years with Dallas, entered Sunday with 12.5 sacks. But even when he was in the game, nobody on the Packers could get to Denver quarterback Bo Nix. He completed 23 of 34 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns.

“That’s a real impressive rush front, and to come out of that game with no sacks, I thought we did a good job, we had a good protection plan,’’ said Broncos coach Sean Payton.

Nix said the offensive line “kept me completely clean” and “battled their butt off.” Right tackle Mike McGlinchey called it a “good day’s work.”

McGlinchey was listed Friday as questionable for Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury. McGlinchey, who did not practice Friday after being a full participant Wednesday and Thursday, wouldn’t say how he suffered the injury. He did say he was worried about it.

“I would like to give a shout out to our medical team here,’’ McGlinchey said. “Probably about 24 hours ago I didn’t know if I would be able to go or not.”

On defense, the Broncos bothered Packers quarterback Jordan Love, having three sacks and 15 quarterback hits, six by lineman Zach Allen. On offense, Denver allowed just three quarterback hits on Nix.

The play in which Parsons was hurt began with 55 seconds left in the third quarter when he chased after Nix and went down in great pain. Players on both teams got on their knees in prayer when Parsons was being looked at on the field. Players then wished him the best before he was helped to the sideline.

“It hurt to see,’’ said Packers defensive lineman Rashan Gary. “(He) will be missed on this defense.”

Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers works out with Parsons in the offseason in the Dallas area. He said it “was tough” to see him injured.

“I know him well and it’s just sad to see that happen,” Franklin-Myers said. “I’m praying for him. I know Micah is going to (come) back for sure.”

Clinching playoffs first step for Broncos

The Broncos were happy but not exactly ecstatic about clinching a playoff berth Sunday.

It was a very big deal in 2024 when Denver on the last day of the regular season clinched its first berth in nine years. But the Broncos have been talking about way more than just getting a playoff berth, including winning the Super Bowl.

“Yes, it’s nice to clinch a playoff berth,’’ Payton said. “Goal one is try to go win your division. Goal two is try to get the best seed, and then goal three is try to win a world championship. So we still haven’t really accomplished one, two or three.”

The Broncos (12-2) have a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) in the AFC West and would have to lose at least two of their final three games to not have the No. 1 seed for the AFC playoffs.

Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian said “clinching the playoffs with three games left” is “big for us” but that the Broncos have “more to play for.” Outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper agreed.

“It feels amazing to clinch a playoff spot, but I don’t feel like everybody’s satisfied with that, just that,” Cooper said. “We still got things we have to clean up.”

As of now, Nix said the Broncos, who have won 11 straight games, are playing quite well.

“I think as a team, we are playing as good as I think we can play right now,’’ Nix said.

Unsung receivers emerge

With rookie receiver Pat Bryant out with a hamstring injury, the Broncos got some help from a pair of understudies.

Michael Bandy, elevated from the practice squad Saturday due to Bryant’s injury, had the first touchdown reception of his four-year career with a 20-yard grab from Nix in the second quarter. It was his only target of the game.

“You watch Mike Bandy just make plays all day long (in practice),’’ McGlinchey said. “Whether it’s the scout team, whether it’s the offense, whatever. He dices people up out there, and really cool to see him punch one in.”

With Bryant out, that meant a bigger role for Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who has been the team’s No. 5 receiver. He had three catches for 42 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter.

“That’s the name of the game is next man up,’’ Humphrey said. “When we go out there, we got to produce, and I think (we) did a pretty good job of doing that.”

Briefly

The Broncos lost starting safety Brandon Jones for the second half with a pectoral injury. He was replaced by P.J. Locke. … In the first quarter, the Broncos lost Justin Strnad, their top reserve at inside linebacker, for the game with an ankle injury. … Wide receiver Marvin Mims missed some time due to a shoulder stinger before being able to return. … In addition to Bryant, inactive for the Broncos were defensive linemen Jordan Jackson and Sav’ion Jones, offensive lineman Geron Christian, cornerback Reese Taylor, outside linebacker Que Robinson and quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Ehlinger was activated off the practice squad Saturday with the intention of getting him a bigger game check this week.