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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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With the NFL Playoffs in sight, Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers are bracing for a fierce battle with the AFC’s Denver Broncos, which some believe could be a preview of the Super Bowl.
While talking to reporters on Friday, Parsons, whom the team acquired via a preseason trade with the Dallas Cowboys, made it crystal clear how he and his teammates see the Broncos game as a way to prove themselves as an elite defense.
The two teams are ranked in the top five for fewest yards allowed by defenses, with Denver third and Green Bay fifth. Individually, Parsons and the Broncos’ Nik Bonitto are currently tied for third in the NFL with 12.5 sacks apiece.
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With that in mind, the game carries serious bragging rights for whichever defensive side steps up to help their team secure an essential victory on Sunday.
Read more: Ryan Clark Rips Colts for Playing Philip Rivers Against Seahawks
“There’s always a certain pride when you’re playing against another good defense or good players,” Parsons said, adding, “You put that pressure on yourself to outperform the other side.”
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In Week 14, both teams held off challenges from pesky division foes. The Broncos outlasted the Las Vegas Raiders 24-17, while a huge interception in the endzone by the Packers helped them avoid a potential overtime battle with the Chicago Bears. Green Bay won 28-21 to take over their division.
Denver seems to be on another level, as many believe it's among a shortlist of teams that could represent the AFC at the NFL's championship game in February. Led by quarterback Bo Nix, they've gone 11-2 to claim first place in the AFC West.
“He’s taken a big jump,” Parsons told reporters. “He protects the ball, gets it out, and Sean Payton’s doing a hell of a job putting him in positions to succeed.”
The Broncos also offer a top-notch rushing defense, allowing the second-fewest yards per game, behind only the Jacksonville Jaguars. Green Bay is still in the top 10 there, and both teams rank in the top 10 for pass defense, suggesting this could be quite a clash in Denver.
“We know it’s going to be a fourth quarter game, but you know, I think at the same time, we not the Giants and any other defense they faced this year, they ain’t have us. I don’t think they played anybody like us,” he told the media.
“I’m excited to go and see what we do against this team,” he said regarding the matchup.
Ahead of the game, the Packers are leading the NFC North at 9-3-1 after defeating the Bears. They'll play the Bears (9-4) again at Soldier Field, as well as the Detroit Lions, another playoff-hunting team. However, the first task at hand is for Green Bay to exert its dominance over Denver, with Parsons wanting his side's defense to prove they are the better of the two.
“We see it,” Parsons said of the Week 15 matchup. “We chart it. Now we’ve got another great opportunity to show who we are.”
Read more: Tom Brady Sends Strong Warning to Bears QB Caleb Williams on NFL Playoffs
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