DENVER — It was a heavyweight battle in the Mile High City on Sunday. And the Denver Broncos came out on top.

Bo Nix played the best game of his career and led the Broncos to a 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers in a potential Super Bowl preview.

Here’s what stood out throughout the game.

Playoff bound

For the second season in a row, the Broncos will be playing in the playoffs. Denver’s win over the Packers officially clinched their ticket to the postseason.

Bo Nix has made the playoffs in both of his years in the NFL. This time, however, the Broncos made the playoffs with three weeks to spare.

At 12-2, the Broncos have a secure lead on the AFC West too.

Broncos getting closer to securing No. 1 seed

Sean Payton and the Broncos sit alone atop the entire NFL with the best record in the league. The 12-2 Broncos have a one-game lead on the 11-3 Patriots after New England blew a 21-point lead to the Buffalo Bills.

The Broncos also have the tiebreaker over the Patriots, essentially giving them a 1.5-game lead with three weeks left.

Denver’ also tied’s 11-game win streak also tied the second-longest win streak in franchise history.

You better Bolieve

The Broncos’ offense was nearly nonexistent in the first quarter.

On Denver’s first drive, RJ Harvey was stripped by Micah Parsons. The Packers’ recovered. At the end of the first quarter, the Broncos had 28 total net yards of offense and only one first down.

The Broncos’ second first down of the day was picked up by a Packers unnecessary roughness penalty.

But then Bo Nix took over.

On their third drive, Nix led a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, capped off with Michael Bandy scoring his first NFL touchdown.

Nix did a tremendous job looking off the Packers’ defense. Once Bandy got open, Nix hit him and there was no one close.

On the following series, the Broncos’ offense picked up right where they left off, thanks in large part to a 42-yard bomb from Nix to Courtland Sutton.

That led to Nix’s second touchdown pass. This time to Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

Nix put the ball right on the money.

Denver’s second-year quarterback was nearly perfect in the first half. Nix went 11-for-12 for 122 yards, two touchdowns and a 148.6 passer rating.

Following Surtain‘s interception in the third quarter, Nix hit a diving Courtland Sutton in the back of the end zone.

It was Nix’s third touchdown pass of the game. At that point in the game, Nix has as many touchdowns (3) as he did incompletions (3).

Before the third quarter ended, Nix had to get one more touchdown. As time expired in the quarter, Nix hit fellow Oregon Duck teammate Troy Franklin for a 23-yard touchdown.

Nix had tied his career high in passing touchdowns with a quarter to spare.

In the fourth quarter, on 4th-and-short, Nix threw a 26-yard completion to Sutton. Bo was feeling it and wasn’t afraid to show it.

Against a top-notch defense, Bo Nix had the best game of his career. It’s time for everyone to put respect on his name.

Pat Surtain II showed why he’s the reigning DPOY

Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and the Packers’ offense had no issue moving the ball against the Broncos’ elite defense to start the game.

In the first half, Green Bay scored on all four of their possessions. Outside of a ridiculous Josh Jacobs touchdown catch over Dre Greenlaw, however, Denver’s defense was stout when their back was against the wall.

Green Bay was forced to kick three field goal in the first half.

But the Packers had rare success against the Broncos’ defense. At halftime, Green Bay had already racked up 251 yards of offense.

To start the second half, the Packers picked up right where they left off.

Thanks to a questionable pass interference call on Riley Moss, Green Bay went on a three-play, 71-yard touchdown drive. Josh Jacobs’s 40-yard touchdown run capped it off.

On the next series, however, Pat Surtain II showed why he’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

Jordan Love thought he had an open Christian Watson 50 yards down the field. Surtain closed the gap and made a diving interception.

No. 2 not only became a candidate for the catch of the year, he singlehandedly kept the Broncos in the game. Surtain’s interception led to Nix’s third touchdown pass of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Surtain’s counterpart Riley Moss got an interception of his own.

After a below-average first half, Denver’s defense turned it on in the second half and helped clinch the win for Denver.